Anti-obesity agent and anti-obesity food

ABSTRACT

An anti-obesity agent containing, as an active ingredient, a microorganism which belongs to the species  Lactobacillus reuteri  and is capable of producing lipases having the amino acid sequences respectively depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 3 or 5 or amino acid sequences having deletion, substitution or addition of one or more amino acids in the amino acid sequences respectively depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, 3 or 5. The anti-obesity agent enables a patient to take a normal meal yet preventing the absorption of a fat into the body which is the primary cause of obesity.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/997,034, filed on Jan. 28, 2008 and now abandoned, which is a 35 U.S.C. §371 National Stage patent application of International patent application PCT/JP2006/314640, filed on Jul. 25, 2006, which claims priority to Japanese patent application JP 2005-215895, filed on Jul. 26, 2005.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an anti-obesity agent and an anti-obesity food, and in more detail, the invention relates to an anti-obesity agent and an anti-obesity food each capable of inhibiting a lipid from being taken from a digestive tract to prevent obesity from occurring.

BACKGROUND ART

The obesity is a disease in a weight control system which is characterized by an excess of body fat. In the modern society, as the result of lack of exercise and meals with excessive calories, a neutral fat is accumulated in the body, and the number of persons who are judged to be obese continues to increase, resulting in a serious problem.

In order to prevent this obesity, though it is the best to perform exercise for consuming a fat to be ingested, it is actually difficult to perform exercise, and a reduction in the ingestion of a fat is demanded.

However, when it was intended to inhibit the obesity through unreasonable dietary restrictions, an intake of other necessary nutrients was insufficient, or the balance was upset, resulting in possibly adversely affecting the body. It may be said that the same is also applicable to the case where a food which makes a person feel full in spite of less nutrients and which is called a diet food is ingested.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

Accordingly, it has been eagerly demanded to develop a measure capable of preventing a lipid (triacylglycerol) as a primary cause of obesity from being absorbed into the body while taking a normal meal.

Means for Solving the Problems

The present inventors paid attention to a mechanism where a lipid is absorbed into the body and made studies regarding a method of inhibiting obesity. As a result, it was found that when a microorganism flora within intestine ingests and degrades a lipid, the lipid to be ingested by a person reduces as a result, whereby the obesity can be spontaneously prevented. Then, the present inventors have made extensive and intensive investigations regarding microorganisms capable of ingesting and degrading such a lipid and as a result, found out a microorganism having such an action among those belonging to lactic acid bacteria, leading to accomplishment of the invention.

Specifically, the invention is concerned with an anti-obesity agent comprising, as an active ingredient, a microorganism belonging to the species Lactobacillus reuteri and capable of producing lipases respectively depicted in the following amino acid sequences (1) to (3) or amino acid sequences having deletion, substitution or addition of one or more amino acids in the amino acid sequences (1) to (3). The “amino acid sequence having deletion, substitution or addition of one or more amino acids” as referred to herein means a sequence equivalent to the original sequence thereof and refers to a sequence still keeping lipase activity. Examples of such an amino acid sequence include those exhibiting homology of 80% or more.

(1) MVKLMTLHELANNPTLSGQVRLIENIVYGA MDGEALHMSILAPWTQRFPKQYQTEPRPLI VFVQGSSWRTPKMGEEIPQLVQFVRAGYIV ATVQHRSSIDSHPFPAFLQDVKTAIRFLRA NAQKYAIDPQQVAIWGTSSGANAAMLVGLT GDDPRYKVDLYQDESDAVDAVVSCFAPMDV EKTFEYDANVPGNKLLQYCLLGPDVSKWPE IEKQMSPLYQVKDGQNYPPFLLFHGDADKV VPYEQMEKMYMRLKDNGNSVEAYRVKGANH ERDFWSPTIYNIVQKFLGDQFK (2) LIYVLKDLCNTIAEVYGKSILKGVFIMKHT LKVDQVRDGLWLDSDITYTQVPGWLGNTTR DLKLSVIRHFQTNDDTRYPVIFWFAGGGWM DTDHNVHLPNLVDFARHGYIVVGVEYRDSN KVQFPGQLEDAKAAIRYMRANAKRFQADPN RFIVMGESAGGHMASMLGVTNGLNQFDKGA NLDYSSDVQVAVPFYGVVDPLTAKTGSASN DFDFVYRNLLGAEPENAPELDSAANPLTYV NSNSTPFLIFHGTEDVVVPIKDSEKLYDAL VENNVPAELYEIEGASHMDVKFLQPQVFKI VMDFLDKYLTRS (3) MEIKSVNLDQPYSSLDIYHSNTDKALPGLV ILPGGSYNQIMERDSERVALTFATHAWQTF VVRYPVVEHKNYEEAKIAVHQAFEYIVNHA AELDVDADRLGIIGFSAGGQIAAAYSNEKL THARFAALGYPVIQPLIDERMGVTTENVAK LVNPQTPPTFMWGSAKDELTPFVDHLQVYA DALIKNDIPYELHEFGTGGHGIALANEYTG IVNNDRVDNHMGKWFPLFLEWLTELNLI (Sequences Above Disclosed as SEQ ID NOS 1, 3 and 5, Respectively, in Order of Appearance)

Also, the invention is concerned with an anti-obesity food comprising, as an active ingredient, a microorganism belonging to the species Lactobacillus reuteri and capable of producing lipases respectively depicted in the foregoing amino acid sequences (1) to (3) or amino acid sequences having deletion, substitution or addition of one or more amino acids in the amino acid sequences (1) to (3).

Furthermore, the invention is concerned with a glycerol-degrading enzyme composed of subunits respectively depicted in the following amino acid sequences (5) to (7) or amino acid sequences having deletion, substitution or addition of one or more amino acids in the amino acid sequences (5) to (7). The “amino acid sequence having deletion, substitution or addition of one or more amino acids” as referred to herein means a sequence equivalent to the original sequence thereof and refers to a sequence still keeping glycerol-degrading activity. Examples of such an amino acid sequence include those exhibiting homology of 80% or more.

(5) MKRQKRFEELEKRPIHQDTFVKEWPEEGFV AMMGPNDPKPSVKVENGKIVEMDGKKLEDF DLIDLYIAKYGINIDNVEKVMNMDSTKIAR MLVDPNVSRDEIIEITSALTPAKAEEIISK LDFGEMIMAVKKMRPRRKPDNQCHVTNTVD NPVQIAADAADAALRGFPEQETTTAVARYA PFNAISILIGAQTGRPGVLTQCSVEEATEL QLGMRGFTAYAETISVYGTDRVFTDGDDTP WSKGFLASCYASRGLKMRFTSGAGSEVLMG YPEGKSMLYLEARCILLTKASGVQGLQNGA VSCIEIPGAVPNGIREVLGENLLCMMCDIE CASGCDQAYSHSDMRRTERFIGQFIAGTDY INSGYSSTPNYDNTFAGSNTDAMDYDDMYV MERDLGQYYGIHPVKEETIIKARNKAAKAL QAVFEDLGLPKITDEEVEAATYANTHDDMP KRDMVADMKAAQDMMDRGITAIDIIKALYN HGFKDVAEAILNLQKQKVVGDYLQTSSIFD KDWNVTSAVNDGNDYQGPGTGYRLYEDKEE WDRIKDLPFALDPEHLEL (6) MADIDENLLRKIVKEVLSETNQIDTKIDFD KSNDSTATATQEVQQPNSKAVPEKKLDWFQ PVGEAKPGYSKDEVVIAVGPAFATVLDKTE TGIPHKEVLRQVIAGIEEEGLKARVVKVYR SSDVAFCAVQGDHLSGSGIAIGIQSKGTTV IHQKDQDPLGNLELFPQAPVLTPETYRAIG KNAAMYAKGESPEPVPAKNDQLARIHYQAI SAIMHIRETHQVVVGKPEEEIKVTFD (7) MSEVDDLVAKIMAQMGNSSSANSSTGTSTA STSKEMTADDYPLYQKHRDLVKTPKGHNLD DINLQKVVNNQVDPKELRITPEALKLQGEI AANAGRPAIQKNLQRAAELTRVPDERVLEM YDALRPFRSTKQELLNIAKELRDKYDANVC AAWFEEAADYYESRKKLKGDN (Sequences Above Disclosed as SEQ ID NOS 9, 11 and 13, Respectively, in Order of Appearance)

Moreover, the invention is concerned with an enteroadherent protein depicted in the following amino acid sequence (8) or an amino acid sequence having deletion, substitution or addition of one or more amino acids in the amino acid sequence (8). The “amino acid sequence having deletion, substitution or addition of one or more amino acids” as referred to herein means a sequence equivalent to the original sequence thereof and refers to a sequence still keeping activity for making a lactic acid bacterium adhere to the vicinity of intestinal mucosa cells. Examples of such an amino acid sequence include those exhibiting homology of 80% or more.

(SEQ ID NO: 15) (8) MFGHDGRIVTKVYQWAGTYYYFDPNTYLRV DNDYRQSQWGDWYMFGPDGRIVTGLKEWYG SYYYFDPTTYLKVTNKWIDNKYFGPAGQQA ISRFERLDNKYYYFDANGAVLNIHDQFKNI DNHTYYFGADGACYTSQFLNKDGKQYYFDN DGIMLTDQEKIIDGKFYHFNVNGEAIQVND PSEI

Effect of the Invention

The anti-obesity agent and anti-obesity food and drink of the invention are able to prevent the absorption of a lipid from the intestinal tract by ingesting them while taking a normal meal. Since lactic acid bacteria are used from old in producing fermented foods such as yogurt and fermented milk and have extremely high safety, they can be ingested without anxiety.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The microorganism which is an active ingredient of the anti-obesity agent and anti-obesity food and drink of the invention (hereinafter often referred to as “anti-obesity agent and the like”) is one belonging to the species Lactobacillus reuteri which is a lactic acid bacterium and capable of producing lipases respectively depicted in the foregoing amino acid sequences (1) to (3) (corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 1, 3 and 5, respectively) or amino acid sequences having deletion, substitution or addition of one or more amino acids in the amino acid sequences (1) to (3) (these lipases will be hereinafter referred to as “lipases of the invention”) (this microorganism will be hereinafter referred to as “lactic acid bacterium of the invention”).

The lipases of the invention degrade a lipid (triacylglycerol) present in the vicinity of intestinal mucosa cells into a fatty acid and glycerol, which are then taken into the lactic acid bacterium of the invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the thus taken fatty acid is utilized as a fungus constituent, and the glycerol is converted into carbon dioxide, acetone, ethanol, lactate or reuterin through various metabolic pathways.

It is preferable that the lactic acid bacterium of the invention has ability for producing the foregoing lipases, namely has the nucleotide sequences (genes) for encoding the foregoing lipases and besides, has a nucleotide sequence as a gene encoding a transporter and depicted in the following (4) (corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 8). The invention also includes a nucleotide sequence having homology of 80% or more with the nucleotide sequence depicted in (4) and encoding a protein having glycerol transporter activity; and a nucleotide sequence for achieving hybridization with the nucleotide sequence depicted in (4) under a stringent condition and encoding a protein having glycerol transporter activity.

(SEQ ID NO: 8) (4) ATGCATGGATTTATTGGCGAATTTTTTGGGACCATGGTTTTAATCCTA TTAGGAGCAGGATGTTGTGCTGGTAATAGTTTGAATAAAACATATGGG AAACAAAGTGGCTGGTGGTTTATCTGTATTTCATGGGGCTTAGCAGTT ACAATGGGAGTTTATGTTGCAGGATTTCTGGGTTCATTAGGGCACTTA AATCCCGCTGTAACAATTCCTTTTGCTATTTTTGGCTTATTCCCATGG AGTAACGTTATACCTTACTTACTTGGTCAATTTCTTGGTGCGTTTGTT GGTGCAGTATTAGTAATTATTCAATTCTATCCACAATTTAAAGCAACC CCAAATGAAGAAGAAGGAAATAATGTTGGTATTTTTGCTACTCGTCCA GCGATAAATAGTCCAATTTTTAACTTTTTCTCAGAAGTGATTGCGACC TTTGCATTTATTTTCATCTTATTAAATCTTGGCAACTTTACACAGGGA TTGAAGCCATTTATCGTAGGAATGGTTATTGCAGTTGTTGGTACATGT CTCGGGACAACTACTGGCTTTGCATTAAACCCAGCTCGTGATTGGTCA CCACGTTTAGCATATACTATTTTGCCAATTCCTAATAAGGGTGTTTCA GAATGGTGGTATGCATGGGTTCCAATGTGTGGCCCAATTGTTGGGGGC CTTCTTGCTTGTGCTTTACAAACGGCACTAGTTTAG

This gene is one encoding a transporter for taking glycerol into the cell of the lactic acid bacterium of the invention, and, as shown in FIG. 1, the thus taken glycerol is subjected to metabolism by the enzymes within the lactic acid bacterium.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the lactic acid bacterium of the invention is one having a glycerol-degrading enzyme composed of the subunits respectively depicted in the foregoing amino acid sequences (5) to (7) (corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 9, 11 and 13, respectively) or amino acid sequences having deletion, substitution or addition of one or more amino acids in the amino acid sequences (5) to (7). This glycerol-degrading enzyme composed of the subunits (5) to (7) is a glycerol dehydratase which functions in a pdu (propanediol utilization) operon and is able to efficiently metabolize glycerol produced by the action of the lipases of the invention.

It is also possible to obtain a lactic acid bacterium with high glycerol-degrading properties by incorporating the following nucleotide sequences (9) to (11) (corresponding to SED ID NO: 10, 12 and 14, respectively) encoding the subunits (5) to (7) into other lactic acid bacterium or the like by a genetic engineering technique. The invention also includes nucleotide sequences having homology of 80% or more with the nucleotide sequences (9) to (11) and encoding a protein having glycerol-degrading activity; and nucleotide sequences for achieving hybridization with the nucleotide sequences (9) to (11) under a stringent condition and encoding a protein having glycerol-degrading activity.

(SEQ ID NO: 10) (9) ATGAAACGTCAAAAACGATTTGAAGAACTAGAAAAACGGCCAATTCAT CAAGATACATTTGTTAAAGAATGGCCAGAAGAAGGTTTCGTTGCAATG ATGGGGCCTAATGACCCTAAGCCTAGTGTAAAAGTTGAAAATGGCAAG ATCGTAGAGATGGATGGTAAAAAGCTCGAAGATTTTGATTTGATTGAC TTGTACATTGCTAAGTATGGAATCAATATTGACAACGTTGAAAAAGTT ATGAATATGGATTCTACCAAGATTGCACGGATGGTTGTTGATCCTAAT GTTTCTGGTGATGAAATTATTGAAATTACATCAGCTTTGACTCCTGCT AAGGCTGAAGAGATCATCAGTAAGCTTGATTTTGGTGAAATGATTATG GCTGTCAAGAAGATGCGCCCACGTCGTAAGCCTGACAACCAGTGTCAC GTTACCAATACTGTTGATAACCCAGTTCAAATTGCTGCTGATGCTGCT GATGCCGCTCTTCGTGGATTTCCAGAACAAGAAACCACGACAGCTGTG GCACGTTATGCACCATTCAATGCTATTTCAATTTTAATTGGTGCACAA ACAGGTCGCCCTGGTGTATTGACACAATGTTCTGTTGAAGAAGCTACT GAATTGCAATTAGGTATGCGTGGTTTTACCGCATATGCTGAAACCATT TCAGTTTACGGTACTGATCGTGTATTTACCGATGGTGATGATACTCCA TGGTCTAAAGGCTTCTTGGCATCTTGTTATGCATCACGTGGTTTGAAG ATGCGATTTACTTCAGGTGCCGGTTCAGAAGTTTTGATGGGTTATCCA GAAGGTAAGTCAATGCTTTACCTTGAAGCGCGTTGTATTTTACTTACT AAGGCTTCAGGTGTTCAAGGACTTCAAAATGGTGCCGTAAGTTGTATT GAAATTCCTGGTGCTGTTCCTAATGGTATTCGTGAAGTTCTCGGTGAA AACTTGTTATGTATGATGTGTGACATCGAATGTGCTTCTGGTTGTGAC CAAGCATACTCACACTCCGATATGCGGCGGACTGAACGGTTTATTGGT CAATTTATTGCCGGTACTGATTATATTAACTCTGGTTACTCATCAACT CCTAACTACGATAATACCTTCGCTGGTTCAAACACTGATGCTATGGAC TACGATGATATGTATGTTATGGAACGTGACTTGGGTCAATATTATGGT ATTCACCCTGTTAAGGAAGAAACCATTATTAAGGCACGTAATAAGGCC GCTAAAGCCCTTCAAGCAGTATTTGAAGATCTTGGATTACCAAAGATT ACTGATGAAGAGGTCGAAGCAGCAACGTATGCTAACACCCATGATGAC ATGCCAAAGCGGGATATGGTTGCAGATATGAAGGCTGCTCAAGATATG ATGGATCGTGGAATTACTGCTATTGATATTATCAAGGCATTGTACAAC CACGGATTTAAAGATGTCGCTGAAGCAATTTTGAACCTTCAAAAACAA AAAGTTGTTGGTGATTACCTTCAAACATCTTCTATTTTTGATAAAGAT TGGAACGTCACTTCTGCTGTTAACGACGGAAATGATTATCAAGGACCA GGTACTGGATACCGTCTATATGAAGACAAGGAAGAATGGGATCGGATT AAAGACTTACCATTCGCCCTTGATCCAGAACATTTGGAACTGTAG (SEQ ID NO: 12) (10) ATGGCTGATATTGATGAAAACTTATTACGTAAAATCGTTAAAGAAGTT TTAAGCGAAACTAATCAAATCGATACTAAGATTGACTTTGATAAAAGT AATGATAGTACTGCAACAGCAACTCAAGAGGTGCAACAACCAAATAGT AAAGCTGTTCCAGAAAAGAAACTTGACTGGTTCCAACCAGTTGGAGAA GCAAAACCTGGATATTCTAAGGATGAAGTTGTAATTGCAGTCGGTCCT GCATTCGCAACTGTTCTTGATAAGACAGAAACTGGTATTCCTCATAAA GAAGTGCTTCGTCAAGTTATTGCTGGTATTGAAGAAGAAGGGCTTAAG GCGCGGGTAGTTAAAGTTTACCGGAGTTCAGATGTAGCATTCTGTGCT GTCCAAGGTGATCACCTTTCTGGTTCAGGAATTGCTATTGGTATCCAA TCAAAAGGGACGACAGTTATTCACCAAAAGGATCAAGACCCTCTTGGT AACCTTGAGTTATTCCCACAAGCGCCAGTACTTACTCCCGAAACTTAT CGTGCAATTGGTAAGAATGCCGCTATGTATGCTAAGGGTGAATCTCCA GAACCAGTTCCAGCTAAAAACGATCAACTTGCTCGTATTCACTATCAA GCTATTTCAGCAATTATGCATATTCGTGAAACTCACCAAGTTGTTGTT GGTAAGCCTGAAGAAGAAATTAAGGTTACGTTTGATTAA (SEQ ID NO: 14) (11) ATGAGTGAAGTTGATGATTTAGTAGCAAAGATCATGGCTCAGATGGGA AACAGTTCATCTGCTAATAGCTCTACAGGTACTTCAACTGCAAGTACT AGTAAGGAAATGACAGCAGATGATTACCCACTTTATCAAAAGCACCGT GATTTAGTAAAAACACCAAAAGGACACAATCTTGATGACATCAATTTA CAAAAAGTAGTAAATAATCAAGTTGATCCTAAGGAATTACGGATTACA CCAGAAGCATTGAAACTTCAAGGTGAAATTGCAGCTAATGCTGGCCGT CCAGCTATTCAAAAGAATCTTCAACGAGCTGCAGAATTAACACGAGTA CCTGACGAACGGGTTCTTGAAATGTATGATGCATTGCGTCCTTTCCGT TCAACTAAGCAAGAATTATTGAACATTGCAAAGGAATTACGGGACAAG TATGACGCTAATGTTTGCGCAGCATGGTTTGAAGAAGCTGCTGATTAT TATGAAAGTCGTAAGAAGCTAAAGGGCGATAACTAA

Moreover, it is more preferable that the lactic acid bacterium of the invention is one holding an enteroadherent protein depicted in the following amino acid sequence (8) (corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 15) or an amino acid sequence having deletion, substitution or addition of one or more amino acids in the amino acid sequence (8).

(SEQ ID NO: 15) (8) MFGHDGRIVTKVYQWAGTYYYFDPNTYLRV DNDYRQSQWGDWYMFGPDGRIVTGLKEWYG SYYYFDPTTYLKVTNKWIDNKYFGPAGQQA ISRFERLDNKYYYFDANGAVLNIHDQFKNI DNHTYYFGADGACYTSQFLNKDGKQYYFDN DGIMLTDQEKIIDGKFYHFNVNGEAIQVND PSEI

This enteroadherent protein has an action for making a lactic acid bacterium adhere to the vicinity of intestinal mucosa cells, and the lactic acid bacterium of the invention having this is able to exist in the vicinity of an intestinal mucosa for a certain period of time and stably take a lipid thereinto. It becomes possible to obtain a lactic acid bacterium with a long intestinal residence time by incorporating a gene encoding this protein and depicted in the following (12) (corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 16) into other lactic acid bacterium by a known technique. The invention also involves a nucleotide sequence having homology of 80% or more with the nucleotide sequence (12) and encoding a protein having activity for making a lactic acid bacterium adhere to the vicinity of intestinal mucosa cells; and a nucleotide sequence for achieving hybridization with the nucleotide sequence (12) under a stringent condition and encoding a protein having activity for making a lactic acid bacterium adhere to the vicinity of intestinal mucosa cells.

(SEQ ID NO: 16) (12) ATGTTCGGTCACGATGGCCGCATTGTTACTAAAGTTTACCAATGGGCT GGCACGTATTACTACTTTGATCCGAATACTTATTTGCGAGTAGATAAT GATTACCGTCAATCTCAGTGGGGCGATTGGTATATGTTTGGCCCAGAT GGTCGTATCGTTACAGGGTTAAAGGAATGGTACGGTAGTTATTATTAC TTTGATCCGACGACTTACTTAAAAGTAACTAATAAGTGGATAGATAAT AAGTACTTTGGTCCAGCTGGTCAGCAAGCTATTTCACGCTTTGAGAGA CTTGATAATAAGTATTACTATTTCGATGCTAATGGGGCAGTTCTTAAT ATCCATGATCAATTTAAGAATATTGATAACCACACTTATTACTTTGGA GCTGATGGTGCTTGTTATACCAGTCAATTCTTAAATAAGGATGGTAAA CAGTATTATTTCGATAATGATGGAATTATGCTCACTGATCAAGAGAAG ATCATTGACGGTAAATTCTATCATTTCAATGTTAATGGTGAAGCAATC CAAGTAAATGATCCTTCTGAAATTTGA

Also, it is preferable that the lactic acid bacterium of the invention is one having a glycerol-degrading enzyme depicted in any of the following amino acid sequences (16) to (20) (corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 17, 19, 21, 23 and 25, respectively) or an amino acid sequence having deletion, substitution or addition of one or more amino acids in any of the amino acid sequences (16) to (20). This glycerol-degrading enzyme is an alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH (8) in FIG. 1) and is able to efficiently metabolize glycerol produced by the action of the lipases of the invention. The “amino acid sequence having deletion, substitution or addition of one or more amino acids” as referred to herein means a sequence equivalent to the original sequence thereof and refers to a sequence still keeping glycerol-degrading activity. Examples of such an amino acid sequence include those exhibiting homology of 80% or more.

(SEQ ID NO: 17) (16) MKAAVINDPVDGFVTVKDVQLRDLKPGEAL VDMEYCGLCHTDLHVAAGDFGKKPGRIIGH EGVGRVSKVAPGVTSLKVGDRVSIAWFFKG CGHCEYCLTGRETLCRNVLNAGYTADGAMA EQCIVPADYAVKVPEGLDPVEATSLTCAGV TMYKALKVADIKPGQWVSIVGAGGLGNLGI QLAHNVFGAHVIAVDGNPDKLEAAKKNGAE ILINRHDGDVDKQIQEKVGGVHAAVVTAVS ASAFDQAVDSLRPDGKLVAVALPQGDMKLN IAKTVLDGIIVAGSLVGTRQDLAECFQFGA EGKVHPIVKTRKLSEINDMIQELKDNKVVG RNVVDFVHNDND (SEQ ID NO: 19) (17) MEKRENAIPKTMKAWAVTTPGPIDGKESPI EFTEKPVPTPKRGEVLVKVITCGVCHTDLH VTEGDLPVHHEHVTPGHEIVGKVVGFGPET QRFKFGERIGIPWFRHACGVCKFCRSGHEN LCPHSLYTGWDHDGGYAEYVTVPEGFAYRL PEKFDSLEAAPLLCAGIIGYRAFERANVPA GGRLGLYGFGGSAHITAQIALAQGIEVHVF TRGEDAKKFALELGCASVQGSYDPAPVPLD SSIIFAPVGDMVLPALASLVPGGTLALAGI HMTDIPTMNYQKEIFHEKTLTSVESNTRRD GEEFLTLADRLNIHPEVHEYPLAKADEALR YVKHGDIKGACVLRVSED (SEQ ID NO: 21) (18) MQIKAALATKPNADLEIQTVELDEPKENEV LIKIASTGFCHTDIVGRSGATTPLPVVLGH EGAGVVQKVGANVTDVKPGDHVVLSFSYCG HCYNCTHNHQGLCENFNQLNFEGKTYDGTH RLHLDDGTPVSVFFGQSSFATYVTANVHNI VKVDQDVDLNLLGPLGCGMQTGAGTVLNYI KPAPEDAIAVFGAGAVGLAAIMAAKIAGVK HIIAINRNGNHLDLAKELGATETINNTAED PVKAIKEIVPRGVTYAIDTTGNTGVIKSAI DSLATAGECVLLGVGGDITLDLMNDILSES KKISGVVEGDSNPQEFIPQLVKYYKQSKFP LDKLVKYYDFADINQVIADSTNGKVIKPII KIDPELAKLPLTNDGSNVQKMVAEAGLADQ ITIDSAGTSNIAEGSPADSRTKAILDKYHI KDDGMIARQLQDRDYYDADYIIAMDQMNVR DAKDMAPAGLENKVHGIFEATPGKENCYIV DPWITH (SEQ ID NO: 23) (19) MKKAIFEKAGQMKIVDVDRPTIEKPDDVII KVVRTCVCGSDLWNFRGINPVEKDSENSGH EAIGIVEEVGEDITTVKPGDFVIAPFTHGC GHCAACRAGFDGSCQSHNDNFSSGVQAQYV RFQHGQWALVKVPGKPSDYSEGMLKSLLTL ADVMATGYHAARVANVSDGDTVVVMGDGAV GLCAIIAAKMRGAKKIISTSRHADRQALAK EFGATDNVAERSDEAVQKIMELTNGAGADA VLECVGTEQSTDTAMKVGRPGTIVGRVGLP HTPKMDMTVLFYNNTIVGGGPASVTTYDKD VLLKAVLDGDINPGKVFTKSFDLDQIQEAY EAMDKREAIKSYIIMDGFERD (SEQ ID NO: 25) (20) MGRLDNKVAIITGGSKGIGAAVAKKFIEEG AKVVLTARKMDEGQKVADQLGDNAIFIQQD VARKGDWDRVIRQTVQVFGKLNIVVNNAGI AEYADVEKTDAEIWDKTIAVNLTGTMWGTK LGIEAMKNNGEKNSIINMSSIEGLIGDPDL FAYNASKGGVRLLTKSAALDCARKGYDIRV NTIHPGYISTPLVDNLVKDDPKAEGHLESL HPLGRLGKPEEIANLALYLASDESSFSTGS EFVADGGYTAQ

It is also possible to obtain a lactic acid bacterium with high glycerol-degrading properties by incorporating the following nucleotide sequences (32) to (36) (corresponding to SED ID NO: 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26, respectively) encoding the glycerol-degrading enzymes (16) to (20), respectively into other lactic acid bacterium or the like by a genetic engineering technique. The invention also includes a nucleotide sequence having homology of 80% or more with any of the nucleotide sequences (32) to (36) and encoding a protein having glycerol-degrading activity; and a nucleotide sequence for achieving hybridization with any of the nucleotide sequences (32) to (36) under a stringent condition and encoding a protein having glycerol-degrading activity.

(SEQ ID NO: 18) (32) ATGAAAGCTGCTGTTATTAATGATCCAGTAGACGGTTTTGTTACTGTT AAAGATGTTCAACTTCGGGATTTGAAGCCCGGTGAAGCTTTAGTTGAC ATGGAATATTGTGGTCTTTGTCACACTGATCTACACGTTGCTGCTGGG GACTTTGGTAAGAAGCCCGGTCGTATTATCGGTCACGAAGGGGTTGGT CGTGTATCTAAGGTTGCCCCTGGCGTTACTTCCTTGAAAGTTGGCGAC CGTGTATCAATTGCATGGTTCTTCAAGGGCTGTGGACACTGTGAATAT TGTTTAACTGGTCGTGAAACTCTTTGTCGGAACGTTCTTAATGCGGGT TACACTGCTGACGGTGCAATGGCTGAACAATGTATCGTACCAGCTGAC TACGCTGTTAAGGTTCCAGAAGGTCTTGATCCTGTTGAAGCTACTTCA TTAACTTGTGCTGGTGTTACGATGTACAAGGCATTAAAGGTTGCTGAC ATCAAGCCAGGTCAATGGGTATCAATCGTTGGTGCTGGTGGTTTAGGT AACTTGGGTATTCAACTTGCTCACAACGTATTTGGTGCTCATGTTATC GCTGTTGATGGTAATCCTGATAAGCTTGAAGCCGCTAAGAAGAATGGT GCTGAAATTTTAATTAACCGTCATGACGGTGATGTTGATAAGCAAATT CAAGAAAAGGTTGGCGGTGTTCACGCTGCTGTAGTAACAGCTGTTTCT GCCTCTGCATTCGACCAAGCAGTTGATTCACTTCGCCCAGATGGTAAG CTTGTTGCCGTTGCGCTTCCACAAGGTGACATGAAGCTTAACATTGCT AAGACTGTTCTTGATGGTATCATTGTTGCTGGTTCATTAGTTGGTACC CGTCAAGACTTAGCTGAATGTTTCCAATTTGGTGCAGAAGGTAAGGTT CACCCAATTGTTAAGACTCGTAAGTTAAGCGAAATTAATGATATGATC CAAGAACTTAAGGATAACAAGGTTGTTGGTCGGAATGTTGTTGATTTT GTTCACAACGATAACGACTAA (SEQ ID NO: 20) (33) ATGGAAAAACGCGAAAATGCTATTCCGAAAACAATGAAGGCTTGGGCA GTCACAACTCCTGGGCCGATTGATGGTAAGGAATCACCAATCGAATTT ACCGAAAAGCCTGTGCCGACTCCTAAACGGGGAGAAGTCCTTGTTAAG GTAATAACGTGTGGAGTATGTCATACGGACTTGCACGTGACTGAAGGA GACTTGCCGGTTCACCACGAACACGTTACTCCTGGTCATGAAATTGTT GGTAAAGTTGTCGGCTTTGGACCAGAGACACAACGATTTAAGTTTGGT GAGCGAATTGGGATTCCATGGTTTCGGCATGCTTGTGGTGTATGCAAG TTTTGCCGATCAGGTCATGAGAATCTCTGTCCTCATTCACTTTATACC GGTTGGGATCATGATGGCGGTTATGCAGAATATGTCACAGTTCCAGAA GGATTTGCATATCGGCTTCCAGAAAAGTTTGATTCCCTAGAGGCAGCT CCGTTATTATGTGCAGGGATTATTGGTTATCGGGCCTTTGAACGTGCC AATGTTCCGGCTGGCGGTCGCCTAGGATTATATGGCTTCGGTGGTTCA GCTCATATTACAGCTCAAATTGCACTTGCTCAGGGAATTGAAGTGCAT GTCTTTACGCGTGGTGAGGATGCCAAGAAATTCGCCCTAGAATTAGGT TGTGCTTCTGTTCAGGGCTCCTATGACCCAGCACCAGTTCCTTTGGAT TCATCAATCATTTTTGCGCCGGTTGGTGATATGGTCTTGCCGGCTTTA GCTAGTTTAGTTCCAGGGGGGACATTAGCATTAGCCGGTATTCATATG ACTGATATTCCAACAATGAATTACCAAAAAGAAATATTCCACGAAAAG ACATTAACGAGTGTTGAGAGTAATACTCGTCGTGATGGGGAAGAATTC TTAACATTAGCTGATCGTCTTAATATCCATCCTGAAGTCCACGAATAT CCCCTAGCAAAGGCTGACGAAGCATTACGCTATGTTAAGCACGGTGAT ATTAAGGGAGCTTGTGTATTACGTGTTAGTGAGGACTAA (SEQ ID NO: 22) (34) ATGCAAATTAAAGCTGCTCTTGCAACCAAACCTAACGCTGATTTAGAG ATTCAAACCGTCGAATTGGATGAACCAAAAGAAAATGAAGTATTAATA AAAATTGCTTCAACAGGTTTTTGTCATACAGATATTGTTGGTCGAAGC GGTGCCACTACCCCTCTCCCCGTTGTCCTCGGGCATGAAGGTGCGGGC GTCGTCCAAAAAGTAGGAGCTAACGTTACGGACGTTAAACCCGGCGAC CATGTTGTTCTATCATTTAGCTACTGTGGCCATTGCTATAACTGTACT CATAATCATCAAGGCTTATGCGAAAACTTCAATCAGCTAAACTTTGAA GGAAAAACCTATGATGGTACTCACCGCCTGCACTTAGATGATGGCACG CCAGTCAGTGTCTTTTTTGGTCAGTCTTCCTTTGCGACCTATGTAACA GCCAATGTCCATAATATTGTTAAAGTTGATCAAGATGTTGATCTTAAC TTATTAGGGCCACTCGGTTGTGGAATGCAAACAGGTGCTGGAACCGTT CTAAATTATATTAAACCTGCTCCTGAAGATGCAATTGCCGTTTTCGGT GCTGGTGCTGTTGGCTTAGCCGCAATTATGGCTGCTAAAATTGCTGGA GTTAAACATATTATTGCGATTAATCGTAACGGTAACCACCTTGACCTG GCGAAGGAATTGGGCGCTACTGAAACGATTAATAATACGGCTGAAGAT CCCGTCAAAGCAATTAAAGAAATCGTTCCGCGTGGTGTAACTTATGCA ATCGATACTACCGGAAACACCGGTGTAATTAAATCAGCAATTGATAGT CTTGCCACCGCTGGAGAATGTGTCCTCTTAGGAGTTGGCGGCGATATT ACCTTAGACTTAATGAATGATATCTTATCAGAATCTAAGAAAATCTCT GGGGTTGTCGAAGGAGATAGCAATCCCCAAGAGTTTATTCCTCAACTA GTTAAGTACTACAAGCAAAGCAAGTTCCCCCTTGATAAGCTTGTTAAG TACTACGATTTTGCTGATATTAACCAAGTTATCGCTGACTCAACAAAC GGAAAGGTTATTAAGCCAATCATCAAAATTGATCCTGAATTAGCTAAA TAATTGCCGCTCACCAATGACGGAAGCAATGTTCAAAAAATGGTTGCA GAAGCTGGCCTTGCTGATCAAATTACTATTGATTCAGCCGGAACAAGT AACATTGCAGAAGGTTCACCTGCTGATAGTCGAACAAAAGCCATTCTC GATAAATATCACATTAAAGACGACGGAATGATTGCCCGTCAATTGCAG GACAGGGATTATTATGATGCCGATTATATTATCGCAATGGATCAGATG AATGTCCGGGACGCAAAAGATATGGCACCAGCTGGGTTAGAAAATAAG GTTCATGGAATCTTTGAAGCTACCCCAGGAAAAGAAAATTGCTATATC GTTGACCCCTGGATCACTCACTGA (SEQ ID NO: 24) (35) ATGAAAAAAGCTATTTTTGAAAAGGCGGGTCAAATGAAGATTGTTGAT GTTGACCGTCCAACAATTGAAAAGCCTGATGACGTAATTATTAAGGTA GTGCGGACCTGTGTTTGTGGTTCTGACCTATGGAACTTCCGAGGAATT AATCCGGTTGAAAAAGATTCTGAAAACTCTGGCCATGAAGCAATTGGA ATTGTTGAAGAAGTTGGTGAAGATATCACTACTGTCAAACCTGGGGAC TTTGTGATTGCTCCATTTACTCATGGATGTGGGCACTGTGCTGCTTGT CGCGCGGGCTTCGATGGTTCTTGCCAAAGTCACAACGATAACTTTAGC TCTGGTGTGCAAGCTCAATACGTTCGGTTCCAACACGGTCAATGGGCG CTTGTTAAAGTTCCGGGCAAGCCAAGTGACTACAGTGAAGGAATGCTT AAGTCCCTCTTAACCCTTGCTGATGTTATGGCTACTGGTTACCACGCT GCACGAGTTGCTAACGTTAGTGATGGTGATACAGTTGTTGTAATGGGT GACGGTGCTGTTGGCCTTTGTGCGATTATTGCTGCTAAGATGCGGGGC GCTAAGAAGATCATTTCTACTAGTCGCCATGCTGACCGTCAAGCCCTT GCTAAGGAATTTGGTGCTACTGACAATGTTGCTGAACGTAGTGACGAA GCGGTTCAAAAGATCATGGAACTCACTAACGGTGCCGGTGCTGATGCT GTCCTTGAATGCGTTGGTACTGAACAATCAACTGATACTGCCATGAAA GTTGGCCGTCCAGGTACCATCGTTGGTCGGGTTGGCTTACCTCATACC CCAAAGATGGACATGACGGTGCTATTCTACAACAACACTATTGTCGGC GGTGGTCCAGCATCAGTAACCACTTACGACAAGGACGTATTGTTGAAG GCTGTTCTTGATGGTGACATTAACCCTGGTAAGGTCTTTACTAAGAGC TTCGACCTTGACCAAATTCAAGAAGCTTATGAAGCAATGGATAAGCGT GAAGCAATCAAGTCTTACATTATTATGGATGGCTTTGAACGCGATTAA (SEQ ID NO: 26) (36) ATGGGTCGTTTAGATAATAAAGTTGCAATTATTACTGGTGGTTCTAAA GGAATTGGAGCTGCTGTCGCAAAAAAGTTTATCGAAGAAGGCGCAAAG GTTGTTTTAACCGCTCGGAAGATGGATGAGGGACAAAAAGTCGCTGAC CAACTAGGTGACAATGCGATCTTTATCCAACAAGACGTTGCTCGGAAA GGAGACTGGGACCGGGTAATCCGCCAAACTGTCCAAGTCTTTGGGAAG CTCAATATTGTGGTTAACAATGCGGGAATTGCCGAATACGCCGATGTT GAGAAGACGGACGCTGAAATTTGGGATAAAACAATTGCCGTTAACCTT ACCGGTACGATGTGGGGAACTAAGCTCGGTATTGAAGCAATGAAGAAC AACGGGGAAAAGAATTCAATCATCAATATGTCATCCATTGAAGGACTA ATTGGTGATCCTGATCTCTTTGCATACAATGCTTCTAAGGGTGGTGTC CGCCTCTTAACTAAGTCCGCTGCGCTTGATTGTGCCCGGAAAGGCTAT GACATCCGTGTAAATACAATTCATCCTGGTTATATCTCAACTCCACTA GTTGATAATTTGGTCAAGGATGATCCAAAAGCAGAAGGACACCTAGAA AGCCTTCATCCCCTTGGCCGTCTTGGAAAGCCAGAAGAGATTGCTAAC CTCGCTTTATACCTTGCTTCAGATGAATCAAGCTTTAGTACTGGTTCG GAATTTGTCGCTGATGGTGGCTATACGGCTCAATAA

Also, it is preferable that the lactic acid bacterium of the invention is one having a glycerol-degrading enzyme depicted in the following amino acid sequence (21) or (22) (corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 27 or 29, respectively) or an amino acid sequence having deletion, substitution or addition of one or more amino acids in the amino acid sequence (21) or (22). This glycerol-degrading enzyme is an alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH (8) in FIG. 1) and is able to efficiently metabolize glycerol produced by the action of the lipases of the invention. The “amino acid sequence having deletion, substitution or addition of one or more amino acids” as referred to herein means a sequence equivalent to the original sequence thereof and refers to a sequence still keeping glycerol-degrading activity. Examples of such an amino acid sequence include those exhibiting homology of 80% or more.

(SEQ ID NO: 27) (21) MTNVPTVKLNNGVEMPTLGFEVFQVPDLSQ AEQAVTDALEVGYRLIDTAAAYQNEEAVGK AIKNSSVNREDVFVTSKLWVSDFNYKRAKA GIDASLQKLGLDYMDLYLLHQPYGDTMGAW RALQEAQKEGKIRAIGVSNFYADQLKDLEL TMPVKPAVNQIEVNPWYQQDQEVKFAQSED IRVEAWAPFAEGKHDIFTNEIIAEIAAKYG KSNGQVILRWLLQRGITVIPKSVHKNRMEE NIDVFDFELSNDDMKKIASLNKKESQFFDH RDPVTIEQIFGSSLKMVQDDEK (SEQ ID NO: 29) (22) MILDETITLNSGVKIPKFALGTWMIDDDQA AEAVRNAIKMGYRHIDTAQAYDNERGVGEG VRTAGIDRDKIFVTSKIAAEHKDYDVTKKS IDETLEKMGLDYIDMMLIHSPQPWKEVNQS DNRYLEGNLAAWRAMEDAVNEGKIRTIGVS NFKKADLENIIKNSDTVPAVDQVLAHIGHT PFNLLSFTHEHDIAVEAYSPVAHGAALDNP VIEKMAKKYNVSVPQLCIRYDWQIGMIVLP KTTNPEHMKENTEIDFEISEADMDLLRRVK PLDYGDFDIYPVYGGKM

It is also possible to obtain a lactic acid bacterium with high glycerol-degrading properties by incorporating the following nucleotide sequence (37) or (38) (corresponding to SED ID NO: 28 or 30, respectively) encoding the glycerol-degrading enzyme (21) or (22), respectively into other lactic acid bacterium or the like by a genetic engineering technique. The invention also includes a nucleotide sequence having homology of 80% or more with the nucleotide sequence (37) or (38) and encoding a protein having glycerol-degrading activity; and a nucleotide sequence for achieving hybridization with the nucleotide sequence (37) or (38) under a stringent condition and encoding a protein having glycerol-degrading activity.

(SEQ ID NO: 28) (37) ATGACAAATGTACCAACAGTAAAATTAAATAACGGAGTAGAAATGCCAACCCTTGGATTT GAAGTATTCCAAGTTCCAGACTTAAGCCAAGCTGAACAAGCAGTTACCGATGCTCTTGAA GTCGGCTATCGTTTAATCGATACTGCTGCTGCTTACCAAAATGAAGAAGCAGTTGGAAAG GCAATTAAGAATAGTAGTGTAAACCGTGAAGATGTCTTTGTAACTTCTAAGTTATGGGTG TCTGATTTTAACTATAAGCGGGCTAAAGCAGGGATTGACGCTTCACTGCAAAAACTTGGC CTTGATTACATGGATCTTTACCTTCTCCATCAACCATATGGCGATACAATGGGGGCTTGG CGAGCATTACAAGAAGCACAGAAAGAAGGTAAGATTCGCGCAATCGGTGTATCGAACTTC TACGCTGATCAACTAAAGGATCTTGAATTAACAATGCCTGTTAAGCCAGCGGTCAACCAA ATTGAAGTTAACCCTTGGTACCAGCAAGATCAAGAGGTTAAGTTTGCGCAAAGTGAAGAT ATTCGTGTTGAAGCATGGGCACCATTTGCGGAAGGTAAGCATGATATTTTTACCAACGAA ATAATTGCGGAAATTGCTGCCAAGTATGGCAAGAGCAATGGTCAAGTAATTCTTCGCTGG CTTTTACAACGGGGTATTACTGTCATTCCAAAGTCAGTCCACAAGAACCGGATGGAAGAA AATATCGATGTCTTTGATTTTGAACTTTCCAATGATGATATGAAAAAGATAGCTAGTCTT AACAAGAAGGAAAGCCAATTCTTTGACCACCGTGATCCGGTTACGATTGAACAAATCTTT GGCTCCAGCTTAAAGATGGTTCAAGATGACGAAAAATAA (SEQ ID NO: 30) (38) ATGATTTTAGATGAGACAATTACTCTTAATAGTGGTGTGAAAATTCCAAAGTTTGCATTA GGAACCTGGATGATTGATGATGACCAAGCAGCCGAAGCAGTTCGGAATGCGATTAAGATG GGATATCGGCACATCGATACAGCTCAGGCTTATGATAATGAGCGGGGAGTCGGTGAAGGT GTACGAACAGCCGGTATTGATCGGGATAAAATCTTTGTTACTTCAAAGATCGCTGCTGAA CACAAAGATTATGATGTAACTAAAAAGTCGATTGACGAGACTCTTGAAAAGATGGGTCTT GATTATATCGACATGATGCTTATTCATAGTCCTCAACCATGGAAAGAAGTAAATCAATCT GATAATCGTTACCTTGAAGGAAATCTCGCTGCTTGGCGAGCCATGGAAGATGCCGTTAAC GAAGGTAAGATTCGAACAATTGGCGTTTCTAATTTCAAAAAAGCCGATCTTGAAAATATT ATTAAGAATAGCGATACCGTTCCCGCTGTTGATCAAGTTTTAGCTCATATTGGTCATACT CCATTCAATCTTTTATCATTTACTCATGAACATGACATTGCGGTTGAAGCATATTCACCA GTTGCTCACGGCGCTGCTTTAGACAACCCCGTAATTGAAAAGATGGCTAAAAAGTACAAC GTTTCAGTCCCACAATTGTGCATTCGGTATGATTGGCAAATAGGAATGATCGTCTTACCA AAGACTACTAATCCAGAACACATGAAGGAAAACACTGAAATTGATTTTGAAATTTCTGAA GCTGATATGGACCTATTGCGGCGAGTAAAGCCATTAGACTATGGCGATTTTGATATCTAC CCTGTTTACGGTGGAAAAATGTAA

Also, it is preferable that the lactic acid bacterium of the invention is one having an aldehyde dehydrogenase depicted in any of the following amino acid sequences (23) to (25) (corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 31, 33 and 35, respectively) or an amino acid sequence having deletion, substitution or addition of one or more amino acids in any of the amino acid sequences (23) to (25). This aldehyde dehydrogenase is an aldehyde dehydrogenase (9) in FIG. 1 and is able to efficiently metabolize glycerol produced by the action of the lipases of the invention. The “amino acid sequence having deletion, substitution or addition of one or more amino acids” as referred to herein means a sequence equivalent to the original sequence thereof and refers to a sequence still keeping aldehyde dehydrogenase activity. Examples of such an amino acid sequence include those exhibiting homology of 80% or more.

(SEQ ID NO: 31) (23) MPANNKKQVEKKELTAEEKKQNAQKLVDDL MTKSQAAFEKLRYYSQEQVDKICQAMALAA EEHHMDLAVDAANETGRGVAEDKAIKNIYA SEYIWNNIRHDKTVGIIEDNDEDQTIKIAD PLGVIAGIVPVTNPTSTTIFKSIISAKTRN TIIFSFHRQAMKSSIKTAKILQEAAEKAGA PKNMIQWLPESTRENTTALLQHPNTATILA TGGPSLVKAAYSSGNPALGVGPGNGPAYIE KTANIERSVYDIVLSKTFDNGMICATENSV VVDEEIYDKVKEEFQKWNCYFLKPNEIDKF TDGFIDPDRHQVRGPIAGRSANAIADMCGI KVPDNTKVIIAEYEGVGDKYPLSAEKLSPV LTMYKATSHENAFDICAQLLHYGGEGHTAA IHTLDDDLATKYGLEMRASRIIVNSPSGIG GIGNIYNNMTPSLTLGTGSYGSNSISHNVT DWDLLNIKTIAKRRENRQWVKIPPKVYFQR NSLKELQDIPNINRAFIVTGPGMSKRGYVQ RVIDQLRQRQNNTAFLVFDDVEEDPSTNTV EKGVAMMNDFKPDTIIALGGGSPMDAAKAM WMFYEHPETSWYGVMQKYLDIRKFRAYQIKK PTKSQLIGIPTTSGTGSEVTPFAVITDSKT HVKYPLADYALTPNIAIVDSQFVETVPAKT TAWTGLDVLCHATESYVSVMATDYTRGWSL QTIKGVMENLPKSVQGDKLARRKMHDFSTM AGMAFGQAFLGINHSLAHKMGGAFGLPHGL LIAIAMPQVIRFNAKRPQKLALWPHYETYH ATKDYADIARFIGLKGNTDEELAEAYAKKV IELAHECGVKLSLKDNGVTREEFDKAVDDL ARLAYEDQCTTTNPVEPLVSQLKELLERCY DGTGVEEK (SEQ ID NO: 33) (24) MAYQSINPFTNQVEKTFENTTDEELEQTLT TAHQLYLDWRKYNDLEERKRQILKLGQILR ERRVEYATVMSKEMGKLISEAEGEVDLCAS FCDYYAAHADEFLQPKIIATTSGRAKVLKQ SLGILVAVEPWNFPFYQIARVFIPNFIAGN PMILKDASNCPASAQAFNDAVKEAGAPAGS LTNLFLSYDQVNKAIADKRVAGVCLTGSER GGATVAKEAGANLKKSTLELGGNDAFIILD DADWDLVEKVAPAARLYNAGQVCTSSKRFI VLEKDYDRFLKMMKDAFSKVKMGDPLDPLT TLAPLSSKKAKEKLQQQVATAVENGAKVYY GNKPVDMEGQFFMPTILTDITPDNPIFDTE MFGPVASVYKVSSEEEAIELANNSSYGLGN TIFSNDSEHAERVAAKIETGMSWINAGWAS LPELPFGGVKNSGYGRELSSYGIDEFTNKH LIYEARQ (SEQ ID NO: 35) (25) MQINDIESAVRKILAEELDNASSSSANVAA TTDNGHRGIFTNVNDAIAAAKAAQEIYRDK PIAVRQQVIDAIKEGFRPYIEKMAKDIKEE TGMGTVEAKIAKLNNALYNTPGPEILEPVV ENGDGGMVMYERLPYGVIGAVGPSTNPSET VIANAIMMLAGGNTLYFGAHPGAKNVTRWT IEKMNDFIADATGLHNLVVSIETPTIESVQ QMMKHPDIAMLAVTGGPAVVHQAMTSGKKA VGAGPGNPPAMVDATADIDLAAHNIITSAS FDNDILCTAEKEVVAESSIKDELIRKMQDE GAFVVNREQADKLADMCIQENGAPDRKFVG KDATYILDQANIPYTGHPVEIICELPKEHP LVMTEMLMPILPVVSCPTFDDVLKTAVEVE KGNHHTATIHSNNLKHINNAAHRMQCSIFV VNGPSYVGTGVADNGAHSGASALTIATPTG EGTCTARTFTRRVRLNSPQGFSVRNWY

It is also possible to obtain a lactic acid bacterium with high glycerol-degrading properties by incorporating the following nucleotide sequences (39) to (41) (corresponding to SED ID NO: 32, 34 and 36, respectively) encoding the aldehyde dehydrogenases (23) to (25), respectively into other lactic acid bacterium or the like by a genetic engineering technique. The invention also includes a nucleotide sequence having homology of 80% or more with any of the nucleotide sequences (39) to (41) and encoding a protein having aldehyde dehydrogenase activity; and a nucleotide sequence for achieving hybridization with any of the nucleotide sequences (39) to (41) under a stringent condition and encoding a protein having aldehyde dehydrogenase activity.

(SEQ ID NO: 32) (39) ATGCCTGCTAACAACAAGAAACAAGTTGAAAAGAAAGAATTAACTGCTGAAGAAAAAAAG CAAAACGCCCAAAAGCTAGTTGACGATTTAATGACTAAGAGTCAAGCTGCTTTTGAAAAG TTACGTTACTATTCACAAGAACAAGTTGACAAGATTTGTCAGGCAATGGCTCTCGCTGCC GAAGAACACCACATGGACTTAGCTGTTGATGCTGCTAACGAAACTGGTCGTGGGGTTGCT GAAGATAAGGCTATCAAGAACATCTACGCAAGTGAATACATTTGGAACAACATCCGTCAC GATAAGACTGTTGGTATTATCGAAGACAATGATGAAGACCAAACTATCAAAATTGCTGAT CCACTTGGTGTCATTGCCGGAATTGTTCCAGTTACTAACCCTACTTCAACAACGATCTTC AAATCAATCATTAGTGCTAAGACACGGAATACAATCATCTTTTCTTTCCACCGTCAAGCA ATGAAGTCATCTATCAAGACTGCAAAGATTCTCCAAGAAGCTGCTGAAAAAGCCGGTGCG CCAAAGAACATGATTCAATGGCTCCCTGAAAGTACCCGCGAAAACACTACCGCATTACTC CAACACCCTAATACTGCTACTATTTTAGCAACCGGTGGTCCTTCATTAGTTAAGGCTGCC TACAGTTCTGGTAACCCTGCTCTTGGTGTTGGTCCTGGTAACGGTCCTGCTTACATCGAA AAAACTGCCAACATCGAACGTTCTGTTTACGACATCGTTCTTTCTAAGACATTCGATAAC GGTATGATTTGTGCCACTGAAAACTCAGTTGTTGTTGATGAAGAAATCTACGACAAGGTT AAAGAAGAATTCCAAAAGTGGAACTGTTACTTCTTGAAGCCAAACGAAATTGATAAATTT ACTGATGGCTTTATTGACCCAGATCGTCATCAAGTTCGTGGTCCAATCGCTGGTCGTTCA GCTAATGCTATTGCTGACATGTGTGGTATTAAAGTACCTGACAACACTAAGGTTATCATT GCTGAATACGAAGGTGTTGGTGACAAGTACCCACTTTCAGCTGAAAAGCTTTCACCAGTA TTAACAATGTACAAGGCAACCTCTCACGAAAATGCCTTTGATATCTGTGCTCAATTATTA CACTACGGTGGTGAAGGTCACACTGCTGCTATTCACACCCTTGATGATGATTTAGCTACT AAGTACGGTCTTGAAATGCGTGCTTCACGGATCATTGTTAACTCCCCATCTGGTATTGGT GGTATTGGTAACATCTACAACAACATGACTCCATCCCTTACTTTAGGTACTGGTTCATAC GGTAGTAACTCAATTTCTCACAACGTTACTGATTGGGACCTCTTAAACATCAAAACAATT GCAAAGCGGCGTGAAAACCGTCAATGGGTTAAGATTCCCCCAAAAGTATACTTTCAACGC AACTCACTAAAAGAATTGCAAGATATTCCAAACATTAACCGGGCATTCATCGTTACTGGT CCTGGAATGAGCAAGCGTGGTTACGTTCAACGTGTTATCGATCAATTGCGTCAACGCCAA AACAACACTGCTTTCTTAGTATTTGATGACGTTGAAGAAGATCCATCAACAAACACTGTT GAAAAAGGTGTTGCCATGATGAATGACTTCAAACCTGATACAATTATTGCTCTTGGTGGT GGTTCACCAATGGATGCTGCTAAGGCTATGTGGATGTTCTATGAGCACCCAGAAACTTCA TGGTATGGGGTTATGCAAAAGTACCTTGATATTCGGAAGCGTGCTTACCAAATCAAGAAG CCTACTAAGTCTCAACTTATTGGTATCCCTACTACATCAGGTACTGGTTCAGAAGTTACT CCATTTGCGGTTATTACCGATTCAAAAACTCATGTTAAGTACCCACTTGCTGACTACGCC TTAACACCAAACATTGCAATCGTTGACTCACAATTCGTTGAAACTGTTCCAGCAAAAACT ACTGCTTGGACTGGACTAGATGTTTTATGTCACGCTACTGAATCATATGTTTCTGTTATG GCAACTGACTACACTCGTGGTTGGTCACTACAAACCATCAAGGGTGTTATGGAAAACCTT CCTAAGTCAGTTCAAGGTGATAAGTTAGCTCGTCGTAAGATGCACGACTTCTCAACAATG GCCGGGATGGCATTTGGTCAAGCCTTCTTAGGAATTAACCACTCCCTTGCCCACAAGATG GGTGGAGCATTCGGTCTTCCTCACGGTTTGCTTATCGCTATTGCAATGCCACAAGTAATT CGCTTTAACGCAAAACGTCCACAAAAGCTTGCTCTCTGGCCTCACTATGAGACTTACCAT GCAACTAAGGACTACGCTGACATTGCACGGTTCATTGGTTTGAAAGGCAACACTGATGAA GAATTAGCTGAAGCATATGCTAAGAAAGTTATCGAACTTGCTCACGAATGTGGTGTTAAG CTTAGTCTTAAGGACAATGGTGTTACACGTGAAGAATTTGATAAGGCGGTTGACGATCTT GCTCGCTTAGCTTACGAAGATCAATGTACTACTACTAACCCAGTTGAACCACTTGTTAGC CAACTCAAGGAATTACTTGAACGTTGCTACGATGGTACTGGCGTTGAAGAAAAATAA (SEQ ID NO: 34) (40) ATGGCATATCAAAGTATCAATCCATTTACGAACCAAGTAGAAAAAACGTTTGAAAATACA ACTGATGAAGAATTAGAACAAACATTAACTACGGCGCATCAATTATATTTAGATTGGCGG AAGTATAATGACCTTGAAGAACGGAAACGGCAAATTTTAAAGTTAGGTCAAATATTACGT GAACGGCGTGTTGAATATGCGACAGTTATGAGTAAGGAAATGGGAAAATTAATTAGCGAA GCAGAAGGCGAGGTTGACCTTTGTGCTTCTTTCTGTGATTATTATGCAGCCCATGCAGAT GAATTTCTGCAACCAAAAATTATTGCGACAACGAGTGGACGCGCCAAAGTTTTGAAGCAA TCATTAGGAATTTTAGTTGCAGTTGAACCTTGGAATTTCCCATTCTATCAAATTGCCCGG GTATTTATTCCCAACTTTATTGCAGGAAACCCCATGATCTTGAAGGATGCGTCGAATTGT CCAGCATCCGCCCAAGCATTTAACGATGCCGTTAAGGAAGCTGGTGCGCCAGCCGGCAGT TTAACTAATTTATTCCTTTCATATGACCAAGTAAATAAGGCAATTGCTGATAAGCGGGTA GCCGGCGTTTGTCTTACTGGTTCTGAACGTGGTGGTGCAACCGTTGCTAAAGAGGCTGGT GCTAATTTGAAGAAGAGCACTTTGGAACTTGGTGGTAATGATGCCTTTATTATCTTAGAC GATGCAGATTGGGATCTTGTCGAAAAAGTTGCCCCGGCAGCCCGTCTGTATAATGCTGGA CAAGTATGTACATCATCAAAACGTTTTATTGTCCTTGAAAAGGATTATGATCGTTTCTTA AAGATGATGAAAGATGCGTTCTCGAAAGTTAAAATGGGTGATCCCCTTGATCCATTAACA ACTCTGGCACCATTATCATCTAAGAAAGCAAAAGAAAAGCTCCAACAGCAAGTCGCAACA GCAGTAGAAAATGGGGCCAAAGTTTACTATGGTAATAAGCCGGTTGACATGGAAGGTCAA TTCTTTATGCCAACGATCTTAACTGATATCACTCCAGATAACCCAATATTTGATACGGAA ATGTTTGGGCCAGTGGCTTCGGTTTATAAGGTTAGTTCCGAAGAGGAAGCAATCGAACTG GCTAATAATTCAAGCTATGGGTTAGGAAACACTATCTTTAGCAATGATTCCGAACATGCG GAACGAGTAGCAGCGAAGATCGAAACTGGAATGAGTTGGATTAATGCCGGCTGGGCTTCA TTACCAGAATTACCATTTGGTGGTGTTAAGAATTCAGGTTACGGTCGTGAACTCAGCAGT TACGGAATTGATGAATTTACTAACAAACATCTAATTTACGAAGCACGACAATAA (SEQ ID NO: 36) (41) ATGCAGATTAATGATATTGAAAGTGCTGTACGCAAAATTCTTGCCGAAGAACTAGATAAT GCCAGCTCTTCAAGTGCAAACGTTGCAGCTACTACTGATAATGGTCATCGCGGAATTTTC ACTAATGTCAATGATGCAATTGCTGCTGCAAAAGCTGCTCAAGAAATATATCGGGATAAG CCAATTGCTGTTCGCCAACAAGTGATTGATGCCATTAAGGAAGGATTCCGCCCATATATT GAAAAAATGGCTAAAGATATCAAAGAAGAAACAGGAATGGGAACAGTAGAGGCCAAAATT GCTAAGTTAAACAATGCCTTGTACAACACTCCTGGTCCCGAGATTCTTGAACCAGTTGTA GAAAACGGTGACGGTGGGATGGTTATGTATGAACGGTTACCATATGGTGTTATTGGTGCG GTTGGCCCAAGTACAAACCCTTCAGAAACTGTAATTGCTAATGCGATCATGATGGTTGCC GGTGGTAATACTCTTTACTTTGGTGCTCACCCTGGCGCAAAGAATGTTACTCGCTGGACA ATTGAAAAGATGAACGATTTTATTGCAGATGCAACAGGCCTTCATAATTTAGTTGTAAGT ATTGAAACACCAACAATTGAATCAGTTCAACAAATGATGAAGCACCCCGACATTGCAATG TTAGCAGTAACTGGTGGCCCAGCTGTTGTTCACCAAGCAATGACCAGTGGTAAGAAAGCG GTTGGTGCTGGTCCTGGTAATCCTCCTGCAATGGTTGATGCTACTGCTGATATTGATTTA GCTGCTCATAATATCATTACATCTGCTTCATTTGATAATGATATTTTATGTACTGCTGAA AAGGAAGTAGTTGCAGAAAGTAGCATTAAAGATGAATTAATTCGTAAGATGCAAGATGAA GGTGCCTTTGTAGTTAACCGTGAACAAGCCGATAAATTAGCTGATATGTGTATCCAAGAA AATGGTGCTCCTGATCGTAAATTTGTTGGTAAGGATGCAACTTATATCTTAGACCAAGCT AATATTCCTTACACAGGCCACCCAGTTGAAATTATTTGTGAACTTCCTAAGGAACATCCA TTAGTAATGACTGAAATGTTAATGCCAATTTTACCAGTTGTTTCTTGTCCAACATTTGAT GATGTTTTGAAGACTGCTGTTGAAGTTGAAAAAGGTAACCATCACACAGCTACTATTCAT TCCAATAACCTTAAGCATATTAATAATGCTGCTCACCGGATGCAATGTTCAATCTTTGTT GTTAATGGCCCATCCTATGTTGGTACAGGTGTTGCAGATAATGGAGCTCACTCAGGTGCT TCAGCATTAACAATTGCTACGCCAACTGGTGAAGGAACATGTACTGCACGAACATTTACT CGTCGGGTTCGTTTGAACTCACCACAAGGATTCTCAGTACGTAACTGGTATTAA

Also, it is preferable that the lactic acid bacterium of the invention is one having a glycerate kinase depicted in the following amino acid sequence (26) (corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 37) or an amino acid sequence having deletion, substitution or addition of one or more amino acids in the amino acid sequence (26). This glycerate kinase is Glycerate kinase (10) in FIG. 1 and is able to efficiently metabolize glycerol produced by the action of the lipases of the invention. The “amino acid sequence having deletion, substitution or addition of one or more amino acids” as referred to herein means a sequence equivalent to the original sequence thereof and refers to a sequence still keeping glycerate kinase activity. Examples of such an amino acid sequence include those exhibiting homology of 80% or more.

(SEQ ID NO: 37) (26) MKFVIAPDSFKGGLTAKEAANVMAEGIKRV FPNAEYALVPMADGGEGTVQSLVDATNGQK MIAKVHNPLNKLVNAEYGILGDGETAVIEM AAASGLQFVNKETANPLITTTYGTGELIKD ALDHNIKKIIIGIGGSATVDGGAGMAQALG ARLLDADNHEIGLGGGELASLEQVDFGGLD PRLKNVDIQIASDVTNPLTGKNGAAPVFGP QKGADEEMVNILDKNLHHYARKIVAAGGPD VEQTAGAGAAGGLGAGLIAFTGATMKRGVE LVIEATQLQKKAVGADYVFTGEGGIDFQTK FGKTPYGVAKATKEVAPTAPVIVLAGNIGK GVNDLYSSTAIDAIFATPEGAKPLKTALAD APIDIAQTAENVARLIKVSHVSN

It is also possible to obtain a lactic acid bacterium with high glycerol-degrading properties by incorporating the following nucleotide sequence (42) (corresponding to SED ID NO: 38) encoding the glycerate kinase (26) into other lactic acid bacterium or the like by a genetic engineering technique. The invention also includes a nucleotide sequence having homology of 80% or more with the nucleotide sequence (42) and encoding a protein having glycerate kinase activity; and a nucleotide sequence for achieving hybridization with the nucleotide sequence (42) under a stringent condition and encoding a protein having glycerate kinase activity.

(SEQ ID NO: 38) (42) ATGAAATTTGTAATTGCTCCAGATTCATTTAAAGGCGGATTAACAGCAAAAGAAGCAGCA AATGTGATGGCAGAAGGAATCAAAAGAGTGTTTCCGAATGCCGAGTATGCTTTAGTTCCA ATGGCTGATGGAGGAGAGGGGACTGTTCAATCCTTAGTTGATGCGACTAACGGTCAAAAA ATGATTGCTAAAGTCCACAACCCATTAAATAAATTAGTTAATGCTGAGTACGGAATATTA GGTGATGGGGAAACGGCAGTGATTGAGATGGCGGCGGCAAGTGGCCTTCAATTTGTTAAT AAGGAGACTGCGAACCCGCTTATTACAACTACATATGGTACCGGCGAGTTAATTAAGGAT GCTCTTGACCATAACATTAAAAAAATAATTATTGGAATTGGTGGAAGTGCAACCGTTGAT GGCGGAGCGGGGATGGCCCAAGCACTTGGAGCACGTTTATTGGATGCTGATAATCATGAA ATTGGTTTAGGCGGTGGTGAGTTAGCAAGTTTAGAGCAAGTAGATTTTGGAGGATTAGAT CCTCGCTTAAAAAATGTAGATATTCAGATTGCATCAGACGTAACCAACCCATTAACAGGA AAAAATGGGGCAGCCCCAGTATTTGGCCCGCAAAAAGGAGCTGATGAAGAAATGGTGAAC ATCTTGGACAAAAATCTTCATCATTATGCCCGAAAAATAGTTGCAGCTGGTGGGCCAGAC GTTGAACAAACGGCAGGTGCAGGGGCAGCCGGTGGTTTAGGAGCCGGGTTGATAGCATTT ACCGGTGCGACAATGAAGCGAGGAGTAGAATTAGTGATTGAAGCAACTCAACTACAAAAA AAGGCAGTTGGCGCTGATTATGTTTTTACTGGTGAAGGAGGAATTGATTTCCAGACTAAA TTTGGTAAAACGCCATATGGAGTCGCTAAGGCAACTAAAGAGGTGGCTCCAACTGCTCCG GTAATTGTGTTGGCTGGAAATATTGGTAAAGGCGTAAATGATCTATATTCATCCACGGCC ATTGATGCAATTTTTGCAACTCCTGAAGGGGCTAAACCATTAAAAACAGCATTAGCAGAT GCACCTATTGATATTGCTCAAACAGCGGAAAACGTTGCACGTTTAATTAAAGTGAGTCAT GTTAGTAATTAA

Also, it is preferable that the lactic acid bacterium of the invention is one having a glycerol kinase depicted in the following amino acid sequence (27) (corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 39) or an amino acid sequence having deletion, substitution or addition of one or more amino acids in the amino acid sequence (27). This glycerol kinase is GK (5) in FIG. 1 and is able to efficiently metabolize glycerol produced by the action of the lipases of the invention. The “amino acid sequence having deletion, substitution or addition of one or more amino acids” as referred to herein means a sequence equivalent to the original sequence thereof and refers to a sequence still keeping glycerol kinase activity. Examples of such an amino acid sequence include those exhibiting homology of 80% or more.

(SEQ ID NO: 39) (27) LSEQQYIMAIDQGTTSSRAIIFDHDGNKVA ISQQEFPQYFPQPGWVEHDPLEIWDSVQSV ISNVMIKSQIKPYKIAAIGITNQRETTVIW DRHTGKPIYNAIVWQSKQTSDIAEQLIKDG YKDMIHQKTGLVIDSYFAATKIKWILDHVP GAREKAAKGDLMFGTIDTWLLWNLSGRRVH ATDVTNASRTMLFNIHTLDWDQDILDLLDI PQSLLPVVKPSSAIYGYTGDYHFYGVQIPI AGIAGDQQAALFGQAAYDKGSIKNTYGTGA FIVMNTGLKPTLSDNGLLTTIAYGLDGQTH YALEGSIFVAGSAVQWLRDGLKMFDKASES EQMAVDAKTTGGVYVVPAFTGLGAPYWDQE VRGAMFGLTRGTERGHIIRATLEAIAYQTK DVVDTMVKDTQLPLTALTVNGGASRNNFMM QFQADILQTPIKRAAMEETTALGAAFLAGL AVDFWEDQDELRKLSRIGDQFDPQMDPQKA ADLYRGWQRAIAAAQFYGKD

It is also possible to obtain a lactic acid bacterium with high glycerol-degrading properties by incorporating the following nucleotide sequence (43) (corresponding to SED ID NO: 40) encoding the glycerol kinase (27) into other lactic acid bacterium or the like by a genetic engineering technique. The invention also includes a nucleotide sequence having homology of 80% or more with the nucleotide sequence (43) and encoding a protein having glycerol kinase activity; and a nucleotide sequence for achieving hybridization with the nucleotide sequence (43) under a stringent condition and encoding a protein having glycerol kinase activity.

(SEQ ID NO: 40) (43) TTGAGTGAACAACAATATATCATGGCGATTGACCAGGGAACGACGAGCTCACGGGCGATT ATCTTTGACCATGACGGAAATAAGGTTGCGATCAGTCAGCAGGAATTTCCCCAATACTTC CCGCAGCCGGGGTGGGTTGAACATGATCCTCTAGAGATTTGGGATAGCGTTCAATCAGTG ATTTCAAATGTAATGATTAAGTCCCAGATCAAGCCCTATAAGATTGCGGCAATTGGGATT ACTAACCAACGGGAGACGACGGTTATTTGGGATCGCCATACCGGTAAGCCGATTTATAAC GCAATTGTCTGGCAATCGAAGCAAACGAGCGACATCGCCGAACAATTGATTAAAGATGGT TATAAGGATATGATCCACCAGAAGACTGGCTTGGTGATTGATTCGTATTTCGCGGCCACT AAGATCAAGTGGATCCTTGACCATGTTCCTGGTGCCCGGGAAAAAGCAGCAAAGGGAGAC TTGATGTTTGGGACTATCGATACTTGGTTACTATGGAATTTATCGGGACGGCGGGTCCAC GCAACGGATGTGACCAATGCCAGCCGGACGATGCTTTTTAATATCCATACCCTCGACTGG GATCAAGATATCCTTGACCTGCTTGATATTCCCCAGTCGCTTTTGCCAGTAGTAAAGCCA AGTTCAGCCATTTACGGTTATACTGGCGACTACCACTTCTATGGGGTGCAGATTCCAATT GCCGGGATTGCAGGTGACCAACAAGCAGCCCTCTTTGGTCAAGCAGCCTATGATAAAGGT TCAATCAAGAACACCTATGGGACTGGAGCCTTCATCGTCATGAATACGGGACTAAAACCC ACGCTTTCGGATAACGGCTTGTTGACGACGATTGCGTATGGCCTGGACGGGCAAACTCAT TACGCGCTTGAAGGAAGTATCTTTGTGGCCGGTTCTGCCGTTCAATGGTTGCGGGATGGT CTCAAGATGTTTGATAAGGCAAGCGAGTCCGAACAAATGGCTGTCGATGCCAAGACAACT GGCGGCGTTTATGTCGTCCCCGCCTTTACAGGATTAGGCGCACCGTACTGGGATCAAGAA GTGCGGGGCGCAATGTTTGGCCTTACCCGTGGAACTGAACGGGGACATATCATCCGTGCA ACTTTGGAAGCCATTGCCTACCAGACCAAAGATGTTGTCGATACGATGGTCAAGGACACC CAATTACCACTAACAGCACTAACGGTTAACGGGGGCGCTTCACGGAACAACTTCATGATG CAGTTCCAGGCCGATATCTTACAAACGCCAATCAAGCGGGCAGCAATGGAAGAGACAACC GCGCTGGGAGCAGCCTTTCTCGCTGGATTGGCCGTTGATTTCTGGGAAGACCAGGATGAG TTACGGAAGCTATCACGGATTGGCGACCAGTTTGATCCACAAATGGATCCGCAAAAGGCA GCTGACTTGTATCGGGGATGGCAACGGGCCATTGCAGCTGCGCAGTTTTATGGCAAAGAT TAA

Also, it is preferable that the lactic acid bacterium of the invention is one having a glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase depicted in the following amino acid sequence (28) (corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 41) or an amino acid sequence having deletion, substitution or addition of one or more amino acids in the amino acid sequence (28). This glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase is GPD (6) in FIG. 1 and is able to efficiently metabolize glycerol produced by the action of the lipases of the invention. The “amino acid sequence having deletion, substitution or addition of one or more amino acids” as referred to herein means a sequence equivalent to the original sequence thereof and refers to a sequence still keeping glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity. Examples of such an amino acid sequence include those exhibiting homology of 80% or more.

(SEQ ID NO: 41) (28) MAEKIAVLGAGSWGSVLANMLTENGHDVTL WSRNEEQVKQLNTEHTNPRYMKDFVYSTNL TATTDMKKAVKGASVVLIVIPTKGLREVAK QLNAILTELHQKPLVIHATKGLEQNTYKRP SEMLSEDISPENRQAIVVLSGPSHAEDVAI KDMTAVTAACEDLASAKKAQKLFSNSYFRV YTNDDVIGAEFGAALKNIIAIGAGAIQGLG YHDNARAALITRGLAEIRRLGVAFGANPMT FIGLSGVGDLVVTATSKNSRNWRAGYQLGQ GKKLQDVIDNMGMVIEGVYTTKAAYELSRK RQVQMPITEALYRVLYEGEDIKTAISQLMD RDLTSENE

It is also possible to obtain a lactic acid bacterium with high glycerol-degrading properties by incorporating the following nucleotide sequence (44) (corresponding to SED ID NO: 42) encoding the glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (28) into other lactic acid bacterium or the like by a genetic engineering technique. The invention also includes a nucleotide sequence having homology of 80% or more with the nucleotide sequence (44) and encoding a protein having glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity; and a nucleotide sequence for achieving hybridization with the nucleotide sequence (44) under a stringent condition and encoding a protein having glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity.

(SEQ ID NO: 42) (44) ATGGCAGAAAAAATTGCTGTTTTAGGTGCTGGTTCGTGGGGCAGTGTTTTAGCAAACATG CTTACAGAAAATGGCCACGATGTAACATTATGGTCTCGTAATGAGGAACAAGTTAAGCAA TTAAATACTGAACATACAAATCCTCGCTATATGAAAGATTTTGTTTATTCTACTAACTTA ACAGCAACAACGGACATGAAAAAAGCTGTTAAGGGTGCCAGTGTGGTCCTGATTGTAATT CCAACAAAGGGTCTTCGTGAAGTTGCTAAGCAATTAAATGCAATTTTGACTGAATTACAT CAAAAACCGCTAGTTATTCACGCAACGAAAGGCTTAGAACAAAATACTTATAAGCGGCCA TCGGAAATGCTTAGCGAAGATATTTCTCCTGAAAACCGTCAGGCAATTGTTGTTTTATCA GGTCCGAGTCATGCTGAAGATGTGGCGATTAAAGATATGACAGCTGTAACCGCAGCTTGT GAGGACCTGGGCAGTGCTAAAAAGGCGCAGAAGTTATTTAGTAATTCTTATTTCCGTGTG TACACTAATGACGATGTAATTGGTGCCGAATTTGGCGCAGCCTTAAAGAACATTATTGCA ATTGGTGCTGGAGCTATTCAGGGACTTGGTTATCATGATAATGCTCGGGCAGCGTTAATT ACTCGTGGACTTGCAGAAATTCGCCGATTGGGAGTTGCTTTTGGTGCCAACCCGATGACT TTTATTGGTCTTTCTGGGGTTGGTGACCTTGTTGTTACTGCTACCAGTAAAAATTCTCGA AATTGGCGTGCTGGCTATCAATTGGGGCAAGGAAAAAAGCTTCAAGATGTAATTGATAAT ATGGGAATGGTTATCGAAGGTGTCTATACTACCAAAGCCGCTTATGAATTAAGTCGTAAA CGACAAGTACAGATGCCAATTACCGAAGCTCTTTACCGTGTTTTGTATGAAGGCGAAGAT ATTAAAACTGCAATTTCTCAATTAATGGACCGAGATCTTACTTCAGAAAACGAATAA

Also, it is preferable that the lactic acid bacterium of the invention is one having triosephosphate isomerase depicted in any of the following amino acid sequences (29) to (32) (corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 43, 45 and 47, respectively) or an amino acid sequence having deletion, substitution or addition of one or more amino acids in any of the amino acid sequences (29) to (31). This triosephosphate isomerase is Triosephosphate isomerase (15) in FIG. 1 and is able to efficiently metabolize glycerol produced by the action of the lipases of the invention. The “amino acid sequence having deletion, substitution or addition of one or more amino acids” as referred to herein means a sequence equivalent to the original sequence thereof and refers to a sequence still keeping triosephosphate isomerase activity. Examples of such an amino acid sequence include those exhibiting homology of 80% or more.

(SEQ ID NO: 43) (29) MRKPFIAANWKMHKNVQESVEFVDAIKGKL PDPQEVEVGIAAQAFALPSMVQAADDSGLK IIAQNAAAEYSGAFTGEISLRGLADAGVSY VMLGHIERRHLFHEDNELVNRKVLAALQMG VTPIICTDETMVQKEVNGEIHYVFQQLMSV LRGVSLDQIKNVVVSYEPSWAVGYGQHANP VLAEEGCRQIRRTIADNYTYEIADKIRILY GGSVNPDNIGMIMNKPDVDGVLIGRASLDV DNFLRMVNYLKNDQEK (SEQ ID NO: 45) (30) MRKPFIIANWKMNKNVHESVAFVKAIKEKL PADKEIGIAAQAVSLYNMKKVASSSNLQII AQNASAELEGPYTGEISMRSLADAGVTYVM LGHLERRRLFNESNDSINQKVLAALNAGII PIICTDEEMVQTEVNGQIHYVFRQLKSVLK GVPANKLSQIVISYEPSWAVGSTHQANPDI AEEGCQAIRQSLVEMYGNEIGEQVRILYGG SVNPENIGQIMSKPNVDGALIGRASLEIES FLQMINYIELASKQKLQVI (SEQ ID NO: 47) (31) MRVPIIAGNWKMHKDVQEAVSFIEKVKNQL PPADQLETAIAAPTLCLVPMVKAAEESPLK IMAENCYYKNEGAYTGETSPYALYQAGIHH VILGHSERRTYFNETDELINKKVKAALVNG LCPIVCCDDTMRRRVAGKKVHWVVSRILAD LHGLTNDEICHVTVAYEPSWAIGTGESADP EQAAEGCYLIRQTISDMYGDEVANNVRILY GGSVTTSNINALMAKNDIDGVLVGAASLNP ETFLQLVHH

It is also possible to obtain a lactic acid bacterium with high glycerol-degrading properties by incorporating the following nucleotide sequences (45) to (47) (corresponding to SED ID NO: 44, 46 and 48, respectively) encoding the triosephosphate isomerases (29) to (31), respectively into other lactic acid bacterium or the like by a genetic engineering technique. The invention also includes a nucleotide sequence having homology of 80% or more with any of the nucleotide sequences (45) to (47) and encoding a protein having triosephosphate isomerase activity; and a nucleotide sequence for achieving hybridization with any of the nucleotide sequences (45) to (47) under a stringent condition and encoding a protein having triosephosphate isomerase activity.

(SEQ ID NO: 44) (45) ATGCGCAAACCCTTTATTGCTGCTAATTGGAAGATGCATAAGAATGTCCAAGAATCGGTT GAATTTGTGGATGCAATTAAAGGAAAGCTACCAGATCCGCAAGAAGTTGAAGTCGGAATT GCAGCCCAAGCTTTTGCATTACCCAGTATGGTTCAAGCCGCTGATGATTCAGGATTAAAG ATAATCGCGCAAAACGCGGCGGCTGAATATTCGGGAGCTTTCACTGGTGAAATTAGCTTA CGAGGTTTAGCTGACGCCGGTGTTTCATATGTAATGTTAGGACATATTGAACGGCGCCAT TTATTCCACGAGGATAATGAGTTGGTTAATCGGAAAGTGTTGGCAGCCCTTCAAATGGGA GTTACCCCGATAATTTGTACGGATGAAACGATGGTCCAGAAAGAAGTTAATGGTGAAATT CACTACGTTTTCCAGCAATTGATGAGCGTATTGAGGGGCGTTTCTCTTGATCAAATTAAA AATGTAGTTGTTTCCTATGAACCAAGTTGGGCAGTTGGATATGGTCAGCATGCTAATCCA GTTCTTGCTGAAGAAGGATGCCGTCAAATTCGGCGAACGATTGCTGATAACTACACTTAT GAGATTGCTGATAAGATCAGGATTCTTTATGGGGGCAGTGTCAATCCAGATAATATCGGA ATGATTATGAACAAGCCAGATGTAGATGGGGTATTAATCGGTCGGGCAAGTTTAGATGTT GATAATTTTTTGCGAATGGTCAATTATTTAAAAAATGATCAAGAAAAATAA (SEQ ID NO: 46) (46) ATGCGCAAACCGTTTATTATTGCGAACTGGAAAATGAATAAAAACGTTCATGAATCTGTT GCGTTTGTTAAAGCAATTAAAGAAAAGCTCCCGGCAGATAAAGAAATTGGGATCGCCGCG CAAGCAGTTTCGCTATATAACATGAAAAAAGTGGCGAGCTCTTCCAACTTACAAATTATT GCTCAAAATGCATCTGCTGAGTTAGAGGGACCATATACTGGAGAAATTAGCATGCGAAGT TTAGCAGATGCGGGCGTGACATACGTGATGCTAGGCCATTTAGAGCGCCGACGCCTTTTT AACGAGAGTAATGATTCAATTAATCAAAAAGTTTTAGCAGCCCTCAATGCTGGTATTATT CCAATCATTTGTACGGATGAAGAGATGGTCCAAACAGAAGTTAACGGACAAATTCATTAT GTATTTCGCCAACTAAAAAGCGTCCTTAAAGGGGTACCAGCTAATAAACTATCACAGATT GTTATTTCGTATGAACCAAGTTGGGGCGTTGGGAGCACGCATCAAGCAAATCCAGACATT GCGGAAGAGGGATGTCAGGCAATTCGTCAAAGCCTGGTTGAAATGTATGGTAATGAGATT GGCGAGCAAGTCCGAATACTCTATGGTGGCAGCGTTAATCCCGAGAACATTGGTCAAATT ATGAGTAAACCAAATGTTGATGGGGCGCTAATCGGTCGCGCAAGTCTCGAGATTGAAAGT TTCTTACAAATGATTAATTATATCGAATTAGCGAGCAAGCAGAAGTTACAGGTAATTTAG (SEQ ID NO: 48) (47) ATGAGAGTACCGATTATTGCTGGTAATTGGAAAATGCATAAGGATGTACAAGAAGCTGTC TCTTTTATCGAAAAAGTAAAAAATCAGCTTCCGCCTGCCGACCAACTTGAAACAGCAATT GCTGCTCCTACTCTTTGTTTAGTACCAATGGTTAAAGCAGCTGAAGAATCCCCGTTAAAA ATAATGGCAGAAAACTGCTACTATAAGAATGAGGGAGCTTATACTGGTGAAACAAGTCCA TATGCTTTATACCAAGCAGGAATCCATCATGTGATTTTAGGCCATTCTGAACGCCGAACT TACTTTAATGAAACTGATGAATTAATTAATAAAAAAGTGAAGGCAGCATTAGTAAATGGG TTATGTCCGATTGTTTGTTGTGATGATACTATGCGTCGACGAGTTGCTGGAAAGAAAGTT CATTGGGTGGTGAGCCGAATTCTCGCTGACCTTCATGGATTGACCAATGACGAAATTTGT CATGTTACGGTTGCTTATGAACCAAGTTGGGCGATTGGAACAGGCGAGAGTGCTGATCCA GAACAAGCGGCGGAAGGTTGTTACCTTATTCGGCAAACGATTAGTGATATGTATGGCGAT GAAGTTGCAAATAACGTTCGAATTCTCTATGGCGGAAGTGTGACAACTTCTAATATCAAT GCACTAATGGCAAAAAATGATATTGATGGTGTTTTAGTCGGAGCGGCGAGCTTAAATCCA GAAACATTTTTACAATTAGTTCACCATTAG

The above-described lactic acid bacteria of the invention can be obtained by subjecting a microorganism belonging to the species Lactobacillus reuteri to genetic analysis by the ordinary method. For example, with respect to many microorganisms belonging to the species Lactobacillus reuteri, it is possible to obtain the targeted lactic acid bacterium of the invention by examining whether or not there are nucleotide sequences having high homology with the following genes (13) to (15) (corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 and 6, respectively) encoding the lipases (1) to (3), respectively.

(13) ATGGTGAAATTGATGACAATACACGAATTAGCAAATAACCCAACGTTAAGCGGCCAAGTA GGCTTGATTGAAAATATTGTTTATGGTGCGATGGATGGTGAGGCATTACATATGTCGATC TTAGCACCGTGGACGCAACGTTTCCCGAAACAATATCAAACTGAACCTCGACCATTGATT GTCTTTGTTCAAGGAAGCTCGTGGCGAACACCAAAAATGGGAGAAGAAATTCCACAACTG GTTCAATTTGTTCGGGCCGGTTATATTGTAGCGACTGTTCAACACCGTAGTTCAATTGAT AGCCACCCATTTCCTGCCTTTTTGCAAGATGTTAAGACTGCCATTCGTTTCTTACGGGCC AATGCGCAAAAATATGCAATTGATCCGCAACAGGTTGCAATTTGGGGGACTTCCTCTGGA GCCAATGCGGCAATGCTAGTCGGCTTAACGGGTGATGATCCGCGCTATAAAGTTGACCTT TATCAAGACGAATCGGATGCAGTAGATGCTGTGGTTAGTTGTTTTGCCCCAATGGACGTG GAGAAGACGTTTGAGTATGATGCTAATGTTCCAGGAAATAAGTTACTGCAATATTGCTTA TTAGGGCCTGATGTATCAAAGTGGCCAGAAATTGAAAAGCAAATGAGTCCCTTATATCAA GTCAAAGATGGGCAAAACTACCCACCATTCTTATTGTTCCACGGAGATGCTGATAAAGTT GTTCCATATGAACAGATGGAAAAAATGTATATGCGGTTGAAGGATAATGGAAATTCTGTT GAAGCGTACCGGGTTAAGGGTGCGAACCATGAACGAGATTTCTGGAGTCCAACAATTTAT AATATTGTGCAGAAGTTTCTTGGCGATCAATTTAAATAA (14) TTGATTTATGTTTTAAAAGATTTATGTAATACTATTGCTGAAGTCTATGGCAAAAGTATT TTAAAAGGAGTTTTTATCATGAAACATACGCTTAAAGTTGATCAAGTACGTGACGGTTTA TGGCTAGATTCAGATATTACGTATACGCAAGTTCCTGGATGGCTTGGTAATACAACGCGA GATTTGAAGCTTTCAGTCATTCGACATTTTCAAACTAATGATGATACACGTTATCCAGTA ATTTTTTGGTTTGCTGGTGGCGGCTGGATGGATACTGACCACAATGTTCATCTGCCGAAT TTGGTTGATTTTGCTCGGCATGGTTACATTGTTGTCGGCGTCGAATATCGTGATAGCAAC AAAGTTCAGTTTCCTGGGCAATTAGAAGATGCTAAGGCTGCTATTCGTTATATGAGAGCT AATGCCAAGCGCTTCCAAGCTGATCCTAATCGGTTTATTGTGATGGGAGAATCGGCCGGT GGACATATGGCAAGTATGCTAGGTGTTACTAACGGCCTTAACCAATTTGACAAAGGTGCT AATTTAGATTACTCCAGTGATGTTCAAGTAGCAGTTCCTTTTTATGGTGTGGTTGATCCC TTAACCGCTAAAACAGGAAGTGCATCAAACGATTTTGATTTTGTTTACCGTAACTTGCTT GGTGCTGAGCCTGAAAACGCTCCTGAGCTTGATTCTGCCGCAAATCCCCTCACCTATGTA AATTCTAATTCTACGCCCTTTCTTATCTTTCATGGGACAGAAGATGTCGTTGTTCCAATT AAAGATAGTGAAAAGCTTTATGATGCATTAGTTGAAAACAACGTTCCTGCTGAATTATAC GAAATCGAAGGCGCAAGTCACATGGATGTGAAATTCCTTCAACCACAGGTATTTAAGATT GTGATGGACTTTTTAGATAAGTATTTAACTCGGTCATAG (15) ATGGAAATTAAAAGTGTTAACTTAGATCAACCATATTCGTCTCTAGATATTTATCATAGT AATACTGATAAAGCTTTGCCCGGTCTTGTTATTTTACCAGGAGGCAGTTATAACCAGATC ATGGAGCGAGATTCTGAACGGGTGGCATTAACGTTTGCAACCCATGCATGGCAAACATTT GTTGTACGATATCCGGTAGTTGAGCATAAGAATTATGAAGAAGCCAAAATAGCGGTTCAC CAAGCATTTGAATATATCGTCAACCATGCAGCTGAATTAGATGTTGACGCTGATCGGTTG GGGATTATTGGCTTTTCTGCAGGAGGCCAAATTGCCGCTGCATATAGTAATGAAAAACTA ACACACGCTAGATTCGCCGCATTAGGATATCCTGTTATTCAACCCTTGATTGATGAACGT ATGGGGGTTACAACAGAGAATGTAGCGAAATTAGTAAATCCGCAAACACCACCAACCTTT ATGTGGGGATCGGCAAAAGATGAACTGACTCCCTTTGTTGATCACCTTCAAGTATATGCA GATGCGTTAATTAAGAATGATATTCCATATGAATTACATGAGTTTGGCACTGGGGGACAT GGAATCGCGTTAGCTAACGAATATACTGGTATTGTTAATAATGATCGGGTAGATAATCAT ATGGGAAAGTGGTTCCCGCTATTTCTTGAGTGGTTAACTGAACTGAATTTAATTTAG (Sequences Above Disclosed as SEQ ID NOS 2, 4 and 6, Respectively, in Order of Appearance)

Examples of the “stringent condition” as referred to in the invention include a condition under which hybridization is carried out by preserving in a solution containing 6▪SSC (composition of 1▪SSC: 0.15 M of NaCl, 0.015 M of sodium citrate, pH 7.0), 0.5% SDS, 5▪Denhardt and 100▪g/mL of thermally denatured herring sperm DNA together with a probe at a temperature of from 50 to 65▪C overnight.

Furthermore, the lactic acid bacterium of the invention having the transport gene (4) and the lactic acid bacteria of the invention having each of the genes (9) to (11) encoding a subunit of glycerol-degrading enzyme, the genes (32) to (38) encoding a glycerol-degrading enzyme, the genes (39) to (41) encoding an aldehyde dehydrogenase, the gene (42) encoding a glycerate kinase, the gene (43) encoding a glycerol kinase, the gene (44) encoding a glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, the genes (45) to (47) encoding triosephosphate isomerase and the gene (12) encoding an enteroadherent protein can also be obtained in the same manner as described above.

Representative examples of the lactic acid bacterium of the invention include Lactobacillus reuteri JCM1112T which is a standard strain of RIKEN, Japan.

The anti-obesity agent of the invention is prepared by processing the foregoing lactic acid bacterium of the invention into a live bacterial agent which can be orally administered and made to arrive at the intestinal tract in a live state as it is. The formulation is not particularly limited and may be, for example, a solid such as a powder, a granule, a tablet and a capsule, a semi-solid such as a jelly and a paste or a liquid such as a suspension and a syrup. These respective formulations can be produced by a known method in the pharmaceutical field.

The lactic acid bacterium of the invention which is blended in the foregoing anti-obesity agent can be cultured by applying a known culture method of lactic acid bacteria. With respect to this culture method, a culture obtained by liquid culturing the lactic acid bacterium of the invention by the ordinary method may be utilized as it is; bacterial cells collected from this culture by means of centrifugation or the like may be used; or a powder obtained by freeze-drying a culture may be used.

As a general production method of the anti-obesity agent of the invention which is a solid, there is exemplified a method in which the lactic acid bacterium of the invention is blended together with a carrier such as water, starch, microcrystalline cellulose, wheat flour and sugar and processed into a desired form. The foregoing carrier is also known and can be properly chosen and used in conformity with the use form. More specifically, powder may be prepared by freeze-drying a bacterial cell of the lactic acid bacterium of the invention as obtained by culturing by the ordinary method to form a powder and mixing it with sugar. Also, a tablet can be obtained by mixing a bacterial cell of the lactic acid bacterium of the invention together with an adequate carrier for tablet and subjecting to tablet making by the ordinary method. Furthermore, a wet bacterial cell of the lactic acid bacterium of the invention may be suspended in a syrup to form a syrup formulation. In preparing the anti-obesity agent of the invention, other components, for example, other microorganisms and active ingredients, sweeteners, flavors and coloring agents may be contained as the need arises.

The dose of the thus obtained anti-obesity agent can be properly determined while taking into consideration the physical state of a subject, for example, state of health, weight, age, medical history and other components to be used. In general, it is from about 10⁸ to 10⁹ CFU/day per an adult in terms of a bacterial number of the lactic acid bacterium of the invention.

Also, in order to prepare an anti-obesity food and drink by using the lactic acid bacterium of the invention, an orally ingestible fermented food may be prepared by utilizing a conventionally known culture method of lactic acid bacteria. Specifically, fermented milk such as yogurt, lactic acid bacteria beverage and fermented sausage can be prepared, and the production of such a food can be achieved by processing apart or the whole of used lactic acid bacteria into the lactic acid bacterium of the invention. Also, the lactic acid bacterium of the invention can be processed into a form containing a larger amount thereof to prepare a healthy food or functional good. In preparing this anti-obesity food, needless to say, other lactic acid bacteria may be contained instead of single use of the lactic acid bacterium of the invention, and food additives or seasonings or the like may be added.

The lactic acid bacterium of the invention shows a significant body weight gain-inhibiting effect (slimming effect) as described later in Examples, and the reasons for this are thought as follows.

That is, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the lactic acid bacterium of the invention degrades a fat in a digestive tract into glycerol and a fatty acid by the action of three lipases (lipases (1) to (3)). The degraded glycerol is then taken into a bacterial cell by a transporter (PduF; encoded by the nucleotide (4)) of the lactic acid bacterium and metabolized by a glycerol-degrading enzyme gene in the bacterial cell (PduCDE; composed of the subunits (5) to (7)) to produce reuterin, or converted into an energy source of the bacterium per se.

On the other hand, the fatty acid is utilized as a bacterial cell component of the present bacterium but not absorbed in a living body. Furthermore, the peptide (8) has such a function to fix the lactic acid bacterium of the invention to the intestinal tract of a human being or a mammal and enables the lactic acid bacterium of the invention to stably exist in the intestinal tract for a fixed period of time.

As has been described previously, since the lactic acid bacterium of the invention stably exists in the intestinal tract, positively degrades a fat and utilizes its metabolites or further metabolizes them, it inhibits the absorption of a lipid from the intestinal tract into the body and even when a normal meal is ingested, is able to prevent obesity from occurring and bring maintenance and improvement of a slimming effect.

Also, an embodiment of the invention includes the use of the lactic acid bacterium of the invention for the prevention or therapy of obesity and further includes the use of the lactic acid bacterium of the invention for the production of an anti-obesity agent.

Moreover, another embodiment of the invention includes a method for therapy of obesity, which is characterized by administering a patient suffering from obesity with the lactic acid bacterium of the invention and also a method for therapy of obesity, which is characterized by administering the anti-obesity agent of the invention.

EXAMPLES

The invention is hereunder described in more detail with reference to the following Examples, but it should be construed that the invention is not limited to these Examples at all.

Example 1 Anti-Obesity Effect Test of L. reuteri JCM1112T

An anti-obesity effect of L. reuteri JCM1112T was examined by the following materials and method.

Materials and Test Method:

(1) Experimental Animal:

Wistar rats of SPF grade (males of 8-week-old; Japan SLC, Inc.) having a body weight of from about 180 to 200 g were used, an acclimatization period of 7 days from the day for the sending in a laboratory was provided, and the experiment was then started. The breeding circumstance was set up at a temperature of 22▪1 ▪C, a humidity of 55▪5% and a lighting time of 12 hours (from 8:00 to 20:00); and the rats were caged individually and provided with free access to sterile distilled water through a watering bottle and a radiation-sterilized solid diet▪for rat (CE-2, CLEA Japan, Inc.) by a feeder, respectively. All of the breeding instruments to be used were ones sterilized by a high-pressure steam sterilizer.

▪: Use for breeding and propagation (crude fat: 4.6%)

(2) Preparation of Test Bacterial Solution:

As test bacteria, L. reuteri JCM1112T (a standard strain of RIKEN, Japan, which was received from the same) and L. rhamnosus ATCC53103 (GG strain) (obtainable inter alia from Valio Oy of Finland under the trade mark LGG and from American Type Culture Collection, 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110, USA) were used. These test bacteria were inoculated in an MRS liquid medium (Oxid) and cultured at 37° C. overnight to prepare pre-culture solutions. An MRS liquid medium was newly added such that the concentration of this pre-culture solution was 1% and cultured at 37° C. for 18 hours to prepare a test bacterial solution.

(3) Administration of Test Bacterial Solution:

The foregoing experimental animals were divided into two test bacterial groups and a control group (five animals per group), and the foregoing test bacterial solutions were orally administered in the test bacterial groups respectively. The test bacterial solution was forcibly administered via probe. The bacterial solutions were prepared at the time of use, and the bacterial dose was set up at 10⁹ CFU per rat. Also, the control group was administered with the same volume of PBS.

(4) Measurement of Body Weight and General Observation of Symptoms:

The body weight of the experimental animal was measured every day by a scale. General observation of symptoms was made every day. The symptoms were recorded for every individual, and symptom items at which a remarkable change was observed were expressed in terms of number of the animals.

(5) Results:

FIG. 2 shows the body weight gain with time in the rats of the groups administered either of the foregoing Lactobacillus bacteria and the control group. As is clear from this drawing, in the L. reuteri JCM1112T group, the body weight gain was significantly inhibited as compared with the control group, and the degree of the inhibition was larger than that in the L. rhamnosus ATCC53103 group.

As well as favorable progress of the body weight gain, a medical examination of the rats of each group confirmed that the state of health of the animals was good.

Example 2 Genome Analysis of L. reuteri JCM1112T

DNA was obtained from L. reuteri JCM1112T by using the following chemicals in the following method, thereby achieving genome analysis.

Method for Obtaining DNA:

(Chemicals)

-   -   Nuclei Lysis solution (Wizard genome DNA purification kit;         manufactured by Promega)     -   Physiological saline     -   50 mM EDTA (pH: 7.0)     -   50 mg/mL lysozyme solution (prepared on the day by dissolving a         prescribed amount of lysozyme in a TE buffer solution, 0.25 M         Tris-HCl (pH 8.0) or 10 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.0)/10 mM EDTA/0.5%         SDS)     -   2 mg/mL EDTA     -   Phenol/chloroform/isoamyl alcohol (25:24:1) mixed solution         (hereinafter abbreviated as “PCI”)     -   Chloroform/isoamyl alcohol (24:1) mixed solution (hereinafter         abbreviated as “CIA”)     -   99% Ethanol     -   70% Ethanol     -   TE buffer solution         (Method)         1. L. reuteri JCM1112T is cultured at 37▪C for 24 hours under         static conditions, and the obtained culture solution (50 mL) is         centrifuged at 3,500 r.p.m. for 15 minutes and then suspended in         physiological saline.         2. The suspension as obtained in 1 is centrifuged at 3,500         r.p.m. for 15 minutes, a supernatant is removed, and the residue         is suspended in 5 mL of 50 mM EDTA.         3. To the suspension as obtained in 2, 200▪L of a 50 mg/mL         lysozyme solution is added and incubated at 37▪C for 60 minutes.         (On that occasion, in the case where an air incubator is used,         the incubation time is set up at from 2 to 3 hours.)         4. After the incubation, the resultant is centrifuged at 3,500         r.p.m. for 15 hours, and a supernatant is removed.         5. To the precipitate as obtained in 4, 5 mL of a Nuclei Lysis         solution is added and incubated at 80▪C for 10 minutes.         6. 1 ▪L of 2 mg/mL RNase A is added and incubated at 37▪ C for         45 minutes.         7. 10 mL of PCI is added and mixed, and the mixture is         centrifuged at 3,500 r.p.m. for 15 minutes.         8. A supernatant is transferred into a new tube, and 10 mL of         PCI is further added and mixed.         9. The same operations are repeated 3 times in total. (The         operations are carried out until no protein layer is         identified.)         10. 10 mL of CIA is added and gently mixed, and the mixture is         then centrifuged at 3,500 r.p.m for 15 minutes (removal of         phenol).         11. A supernatant is transferred into a new tube, followed by         precipitation with ethanol.         12. A precipitate as obtained in 11 is dissolved in 1 mL of a TE         buffer solution to obtain a lactic acid bacterium DNA.         Genome Analysis Method:

The DNA thus obtained was subjected to structural gene prediction and annotation. The structural gene predict ion and the like were carried out by combining the results of GENOMEGAMBLER (Sakiyama, T., Takami, H., Ogasawara, N., Kuhara, S., Kozuki, T., Doga, K., Ohyama, A., Horikoshi, K., “An automated system for genome analysis to support microbial whole-genome shotgun sequencing”, Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem., 64: 670 to 673 2000), GLIMMER 2.0 (Salzberg, S L., Delcher, A L., Kasif, S., and White, O., “Microbial gene identification using interpolated Markov models”, Nucleic. Acid. Res., 26: 544 to 548, 1998) and BLAST program blastp (Altschul, S F., Gish, W., Miller, W., Myers, E W., and Lipman, D J., “Basic local alignment search tool”, J. Mol. Biol., 215: 403 to 410, 1990).

Also, INTERPRO (Mulder, N J., Apweiler, R., Attwood, T K., Bairoch, A., Barrell, D., Bateman, A., Binns, D., Biswas, M., Bradley, P., Bork, P., Bucher, P., Copley, R R., Courcelle, E., Das, U., Durbin, R., Falquet, L., Fleischmann, W., Griffiths-Jones, S., Haft, D., Harte, N., Hulo, N., Kahn, D., Kanapin, A., Krestyaninova, M., Lopez, R., Letunic, I., Lonsdale, D., Silventoinen, V., Orchard, S E., Pagni, M., Peyruc, D., Ponting, C P., Selengut, J D., Servant, F., Sigrist, C J., Vaughan, R., and Zdobnov, E M., “The InterPro Database, 2003 brings increased coverage and new features”, Nucleic. Acids. Res., 31: 315 to 318, 2003; http://www.ebi.ac.uk/interpro) was used for the analysis of a domain structure; and CLUSTALW (Thompson, J D., Higgins, D G., and Gibson, T J., “CLUSTAL W: improving the sensitivity of progressive multiple sequence alignment through sequence weighting, position-specific gap penalties and weight matrix choice”, Nucleic. Acids. Res., 22: 4673 to 4680, 1994; http://clustalw.genome.ad.jp/) was used for the preparation of a molecular phylogenetic tree.

Furthermore, the used DNA and amino acid sequences were obtained from National Center of Biological Information (NCBI, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) and KEGG database (Ogata, H., Goto, S., Sato, K., Fujibuchi, W., Bono, H., and Kanehisa, M., “KEGG: Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes”, Nucleic. Acids. Res., 27: 29 to 34, 1999; http://www.genome.ad.jp/kegg/kegg2.html); and a draft sequence of the Lactobacillus bacterium was obtained from DOE JOINT GENOME INSTITUTE (JGI; http://www.jgi.doe.gov/JGI_microbial/html/index.html).

Based on the foregoing information, the genes depicted in (13) to (15) were identified as encoding the lipases; the gene depicted in (4) as encoding a transporter gene; the genes depicted in (9), (10) and (11) as encoding a glycerol-degrading enzyme; and the gene depicted in (12) as an adhesive gene, respectively. Also, the genes depicted in (32) to (38) were identified as encoding a glycerol-degrading enzyme; the genes depicted in (39) to (41) as encoding an aldehyde dehydrogenase; the gene depicted in (42) as encoding a glycerate kinase; the gene depicted in (43) as encoding a glycerol kinase; the gene depicted in (44) as encoding a glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; and the genes depicted in (45) to (47) as encoding triosephosphate isomerase, respectively.

Example 3 Amplification of Glycerol-Degrading Gene

PCR was carried out by using DNA as purified in Example 2 as a template and the following nucleotide sequences as primers and using the following reaction solutions. The PCR condition is also shown below.

(Primer) pduCDE(F): CACCATGAAACGTCAAAAACGATTT (SEQ ID NO: 49) pduCDE(R): AAAAGCTTAGTTATCGCCCTTTAGC (SEQ ID NO: 50) (PCR Reaction Solution) Template DNA: 1▪L KOD-plus: 1▪L 10▪KOD-plus buffer solution: 5▪L dNTP (2 mM each): 5▪L Primer (20 mm): 1▪L each MgSO₄ (25 mm): 2▪L Deionized water (D.W.): 34▪L (PCR Condition) (1) To hold at 94▪C for 3 minutes. (2) To hold at 94▪C for 15 seconds. (3) To hold at 56▪C (Tm) for 30 seconds. (4) To hold at 68▪C for 3 minutes 30 seconds. (5) To perform (2) to (4) in 30 cycles. (6) To preserve at 4▪C.

Example 4 Amplification of L. Reuteri-Derived Lipase Gene and Adhesive Gene

PCR was carried out in the same manner as in Example 3, except using the following sequences as primers, thereby amplifying the lipase gene and adhesive gene.

(Primer) Lipase (1) 5′-ATGGTGAAATTGATGACAAT (SEQ ID NO: 51) 5′-TTATTTAAATTGATCGCCAA (SEQ ID NO: 52) Lipase (2) 5′-TTGATTTATGTTTTAAAAGA (SEQ ID NO: 53) 5′-CTATGACCGAGTTAAATACT (SEQ ID NO: 54) Lipase (3) 5′-ATGGAAATTAAAAGTGTTAA (SEQ ID NO: 55) 5′-CTAAATTAAATTCAGTTCAG (SEQ ID NO: 56) Adhesive gene 5′-ATGTTCGGTCACGATGGCCG (SEQ ID NO: 57) 5′-TCAAATTTCAGAAGGATCAT (SEQ ID NO: 58)

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As is clear from the results of the foregoing Examples using L. reuteri JCM1112T which is a representative of the lactic acid bacterium of the invention, the administration of this microorganism could inhibit the body weight gain without affecting the health of the experimental animals and without particularly limiting nutrition intake.

Accordingly, the anti-obesity agent or anti-obesity food and drink utilizing the lactic acid bacterium of the invention is able to prevent obesity and to bring a slimming effect without requiring particular therapy or treatment other than intake of the agent, or the food or drink per se.

Also, by incorporating genes encoding subunits of a glycerol-degrading enzyme or a gene encoding an enteroadherent protein, each of which has been found out from the lactic acid bacterium of the invention, into other lactic acid bacterium by a known measure, it becomes possible to obtain a lactic acid bacterium with high glycerol-degrading properties or a lactic acid bacterium with a long intestinal residence time. It is also possible to advantageously use it for the modification of other useful lactic acid bacteria.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a metabolism map of L. reuteri JCM1112T.

FIG. 2 is a drawing showing the body weight gain with time in the rats administered with L. reuteri JCM1112T in comparison with the comparative group and the control group. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method of treating obesity, wherein the method comprises administering to a subject in need thereof a composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC
 53103. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the therapeutically effective amount is 10⁸-10⁹ CFU/day in terms of a bacterial number of Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC
 53103. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the composition is a food.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the composition is a drink.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC 53103 inhibits a lipid from being taken from a digestive tract.
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC 53103 has been transformed with a nucleic acid encoding a glycerol-degrading enzyme that is a glycerol dehydratase having an amino acid sequence that is any one of SEQ ID Nos. 10, 12 or
 14. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC 53103 has been transformed with a nucleic acid encoding an enteroadherent protein having an amino acid sequence that is SEQ ID No.
 16. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC 53103 has been transformed with a nucleic acid encoding a glycerol-degrading enzyme that is an alcohol dehydrogenase having an amino acid sequence that is any one of SEQ ID Nos. 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 or
 30. 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC 53103 has been transformed with a nucleic acid encoding a glycerol-degrading enzyme that is an aldehyde dehydrogenase having an amino acid sequence that is any one of SEQ ID Nos. 32, 34 or
 36. 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC 53103 has been transformed with a nucleic acid encoding a glycerol-degrading enzyme that is a glycerate kinase having an amino acid sequence that is SEQ ID No.
 38. 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC 53103 has been transformed with a nucleic acid encoding a glycerol-degrading enzyme that is a glycerol kinase having an amino acid sequence that is SEQ ID No.
 40. 12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC 53103 has been transformed with a nucleic acid encoding a glycerol-degrading enzyme that is a glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase having an amino acid sequence that is SEQ ID No.
 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC 53103 has been transformed with a nucleic acid encoding a glycerol-degrading enzyme that is a triosephosphate isomerase having an amino acid sequence that is any one of SEQ ID Nos. 44, 46 or
 48. 